#Like “HELL YEAH TAICHI!”

[kkatastrophic]

Actual footage of me when Taichi just fucking died:

[kennyomegasweave]

In defense of Maya (without knowing the manga):

She definitely annoyed me because obviously I know Taichi isn't the person she was claiming he is and she clearly knows Kohei likes him as a friend, at least, so it's like ...girl, come on. But like.

She only went off on Taichi after she got the first set of notes he took? Which, let's be honest here, were dogshit. He really didn't take a service that Kohei needs seriously and he was initially doing it for Kohei's lunch. She didn't lie there. We also learned there's only 23 notetakers in the entire college. This is a service that is very much needed, yet doesn't have nearly enough volunteers for, and Taichi was treating it like a joke that didn't matter at first. That shit was hella disrespectful. He didn't mean it as such, and Kohei didn't take it as such either, but it was. So no shit Maya got that notebook and was like "...what the hell am I supposed to do with this? And this is who Kohei thinks is so nice and cool and everything?"

All Maya has are the initial terrible notes that Kohei gave her like they were helpful (they weren't) and knowing Kohei only kept Taichi as his note taker because he liked being around him. With the unspoken fact, that maybe non disabled people didn’t pick up on, that he also only kept Taichi as his note taker because there just aren't enough note takers, so he couldn't have gotten better anyway. Which almost certainly factored in as to why Maya blew up at Taichi. Disabled people shouldn't have to accept shit notes just because the alternative is no notes at all. We already have to work uphill cause of the disability, it's adding insult to injury to basically know everyone’s like "well, yeah it sucks, but you could have nothing." Or even a “yeah, I didn’t care at first, but I do now!” Because it’s like “it’s great that you finally realized this is a real service needed for a real disability that affects real people. Glad you finally figured that out. Congrataritos.” Like it is exhausting being disabled and having to sit there and smile when people have their lightbulb growing moment since we don’t have the option to dick around until we decide to lock it in. So I completely got why those shitty notes set Maya off. Because she didn't go off at him after the dinner, it was after she got those notes.

And on a related note, we all clapped for Taichi when he went off on homegirl in the cafe because she wasn't treating Kohei like a real person with real issues, but he also wasn’t taking Kohei and his problems seriously with those initial notes. Like yes, he started trying and actually doing better, but that only happened once he became friends with Kohei and realized he needed to do better. Who knows, maybe the cafe girl could have grown as a person, like Taichi did, if she had been able to get to know Kohei as a real person. But Taichi didn't let her get that chance, just like Maya wouldn't have let him get that chance if she could. The only difference in those two situations, to me, is Taichi is already Kohei's friend so Maya can't stop them from interacting like Taichi did with that girl.

Like I’m sorry y’all, Maya's not being any more of a bitch than Taichi was because she can only work with the information she has, which obviously isn't what we as viewers have. She’s pushy and overbearing and, yeah, annoying because she also obviously has a crush on Kohei and we know he's sprung on Taichi, but it’s really not like she just looked at Taichi and went “fuck this guy” for no reason.

[jujumin-translates]

[A3!] Tsuzuru Minagi | [R] Casually Showing Skin Mode | L3tt3r Fr0m A Gy4ru

Tsuzuru: (And I’m finally done with classes for the day. Okay, guess I’ll head home—.)

Tsuzuru: (Hm? That’s quite the crowd. Wonder what’s going on…)

Taichi: Ah, Tsuzuru-kuuun!

Juza: Good work.

Tsuzuru: Oh, so you guys are here too. Is there some kinda event going on or something?

Taichi: I dunno, we just got here. It sure is busy. Wonder what’s up.

Juza: Huh, there’s a whole lotta stuff here. They’ve got random things, books, ‘n even household appliances lined up.

Tsuzuru: Ahh, I get it… It’s probably a reuse market.

Taichi: Reuse market?

Tsuzuru: It’s a kinda on-campus event where students who are about to graduate give away things they don’t need anymore to younger students.

Juza: Now that ya mention it, you got a book of short stories at the last one, didn’t ya, Tsuzuru-san?

Tsuzuru: Yeah, I was curious about this one that one of the upperclassmen told me about, but it happened to be out of print.

Taichi: Damn, lucky! Where’s that book now?

Tsuzuru: After I finished reading it, I started passing it around the company to anyone who wanted to read it.

Tsuzuru: That reminds me, I wonder who’s got it now…

Taichi: Who are the ones who wanted to read it?

Tsuzuru: Umm, Miyoshi-san, and Takato-san have already read it… And I think Furuichi-san and Tsukioka-san said they were interested too.

Juza: I’m interested in readin’ it too.

Tsuzuru: Gotcha. I’ll bring it over to you whenever I get it back then, Juza.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Tsuzuru: I’m back.

Tsuzuru: (...Huh, did I leave a book out on my desk…?)

Tsuzuru: (Ah, that was the book we were just talking about. What perfect timing to get it back. I’ll go and bring it over to Juza right aw—.)

*Paper falls out of the book*

Tsuzuru: …Hm? Did something just fall out of it?

Tsuzuru: A note?

Thx 4 l3nding m3 thiz, Tzr-kun. I w4z rlly impr3zz3d w h0w clvr th3 f0r3shad0wing w4z. Th3 nam3z of th3 flwrz n th3 flwr l4ngu4g3 m3nti0n3d n th3 prlg s3nt such 4 shvr d0wn my spin3 tht I rlzd tht th3 clprt mightv3 4ctlly b33n TwT nstd 0f xD. If I w3r3 t0 pl4y tht r0l3, M sur3 thtz wht I wld d0…

Tsuzuru: The hell…? Is this a cipher or a prank or something?

Tsuzuru: —Ah.

Tsuzuru: Is this… that gyaru-speak thing?

· ❀ —– ٠ ❀ ٠ —– ❀ ·

Tsuzuru: Jeez, he better still be here…

Omi: Welcome back.

Izumi: Hey, Tsuzuru-kun, would you rather have curry udon or soy milk curry hotpot for dinner tonight?

Tsuzuru: Aren’t both of them still curry? Well, it was pretty cold today,  so hotpot would be…

Tsuzuru: Wait, that’s not what I’m here for! Is Miyoshi-san here?

Omi: Kazunari’s in the kitchen.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Kazunari: Lookin’ for me~?

Tsuzuru: The hell is this? I literally can’t read any of it…

Kazunari: Oh, gyaru-speak! What’s this about?

Tsuzuru: What do you mean ‘what’s this about’...? You didn’t write this?

Tsuzuru: It was stuck in the book I just got back, and you’re the only one who would write something like this, Miyoshi-san…

Kazunari: Ermm~, well, it wasn’t me.

Tsuzuru: What? But if it’s not you, then the people who I lent the book to after you were Takato-san, Furuichi-san, Tsukioka-san—.

Tsuzuru: No, it had to have been you, Miyoshi-san.

Izumi: Maybe if you read the note you’ll be able to figure out who wrote it?

Tsuzuru: Right. Umm—.

Tsuzuru: …

Tsuzuru: Yeah, not happening. I’ve got no clue what it says no matter how hard I try to read it…

Izumi: Let me see. …Umm, I can’t read it either.

Omi: Those don’t even look like sentences to me.

Tsuzuru: Damnit. What are we gonna do…?

Kazunari: I’ve gotcha, fam. I’ve got this gyaru-speak translator website.

Kazunari: Just gotta take a pic, scan the text, and… copy-paste and translate ♪

Tsuzuru: That’s incredible… So, what does it say?

Kazunari: “Thank you for lending me this, Tsuzuru-kun. I was really impressed with how clever the foreshadowing was. The names of the flowers and the flower language mentioned in the prologue—.”

Kazunari: “Sent such a shiver down my spine that I realized that the culprit might’ve actually been crying instead of laughing.”

Kazunari: “If I were to play that role, I’m sure that’s probably what I would do…”

Kazunari: Wait, could this be…

Tsumugi: I’m back~.

Tsuzuru: Perfect timing. Um, Tsukioka-san. About this note…

Tsumugi: Ah! Thank you for the book, it was really interesting.

Tsuzuru: No, not that…! Did you write this, Tsukioka-san?

Tsumugi: Yeah. Ah, did I forget to write my name on it?

Tsuzuru: Forget about that! Why is it in gyaru-speak!?

Tsumugi: Kazu-kun told me that gyaru stuff and gyaru-speak are really popular nowadays, so I tried using it.

Kazunari: Ohh~, yeah, so, I might’ve told TsumuTsumu about that translation website the other day…

Tsuzuru: So it WAS because of you!

Tsumugi: Ahaha, maybe I should’ve written it normally. Sorry, my bad.

Izumi: I never would’ve thought it was you, Tsumugi. That was quite a surprise.

Omi: Yeah. Good thing we figured it all out.

Kazunari: But like, wasn’t it kinda fun? It was like a little cipher game.

Tsumugi: Yeah, and it was really easy to do. Why don’t we recommend it to the others?

Kazunari: Banger idea, bestie! I bet RonRon and Taicchan would eat this up, don’tcha think?

Tsumugi: I bet Azuma-san and Homare-san would enjoy it too.

Tsuzuru: Wait! Quit trying to come up with weird trends!

[the-himawari]

A3! Izumida Azami - Translation [SR] Bright Star of Blooming (1/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

*door opens*

Azami: I’m back.

Sakyo: …

Azami: (Huh? What’s Sakyo starin’ at on the computer all by himself?) … (Is that the channel of a theater company that was eliminated in the prelims of the latest Fleur Cup?) (I remember I heard Taichi-san and Kumon mention even though they didn’t make it through the first round, they were pretty popular locally.) (They were originally streamers, I think. So why is Sakyo watchin’ them…?) (And what kinda video is that anyways? …A personality quiz?)

Video caption: “People who chose 'A' are… aha, would you look at that?" "They’re the passionate romantic type. However, they’re only in it for fun…"

Azami: W-W-WHA-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WATCHIN'!

Sakyo: Hey. Don’t get pissed after lookin’ at someone’s stuff without asking.

Azami: Ugh, shut up. It’s your fault for watchin’ something like that in the lounge! Is that what you’re into or somethin’?

Sakyo: Did you sprain yourself with that reach? It’s just a personality quiz. And in any case, I’m just watching it for reference.

Azami: Huh? Reference?

Sakyo: I was also thinking it’s ‘bout time we start a new project on the “MANKAI Channel”. I’ve been watching videos from other theatres, companies, idols, and V-talents as research for that.

Azami: I see. So that’s why you’re usin’ that kinda video.

Sakyo: We’re gonna need a certain amount of publicity if we consider the final selection that’s comin’ up. It’s only natural to look to groups that have a similar audience with us.

Azami: I see. That’s what you mean?

Sakyo: You should know painfully well what I’m talking about.

Azami: …I mean, I guess. By the way, which videos are gettin' hits on our channel?

Sakyo: Each one has about the same number of views, more or less. But the separate videos made by each troupe have a good number of comments and viewers. For example, the one where Autumn troupe went paintballing was well received.

Azami: Ahh. Right, that. That takes me back.

Sakyo: Also, readin' the comments, we’ve gotten a lotta requests for videos that involve personality tests.

Azami: Huh? Is that why you were watchin’ that one earlier?

Sakyo: Yeah. It looks like there are people out there who are interested in that sorta romantic stuff.

Azami: Gimme a break… If we’re gonna do somethin’, then make sure it’s something more respectable.

Sakyo: Well… I’ll look into it a bit more.

-pause-

Azami: Thanks for waiting. Director, does my wig look okay?

Izumi: Hold still for a second. …There. Perfect.

Azami: Thanks.

Banri: Nice. Azami totally rocks blonde hair, doesn’t he? He’s got a father-son vibe goin’ on with Sakyo-san.

Azami: Ugh. Don’t make fun of me. I’m not even playin’ his son, got that?

Omi: Haha. But it’s true it suits you. It looks like choosing this colour back then was the right choice after all.

Azami: I mean… yeah. Thanks.

Sakyo: Hey, Bon. You better not be plannin’ on showing that attitude in front of the audience.

Azami: ‘Course I won’t.

Sakyo: Hmph. …Good then.

Izumi: (Sakyo-san looks pretty happy.) Alright, guys. It's almost showtime.

Azami: ‘Kay.

---

| next

[shihalyfie]

There's something bugging me since I saw a statement from Producer Shimomura in a Spanish interview being linked to Rui's page (and consequently, the Chosen Child's page) on a wiki about a question which was "Rui is way younger than Maki and Daigo who're the first Chosen. How so?" My assumption of that question was like "the interviewer was assuming things (thanks to the fact now everyone who sees the mentioned Five Previous Chosen from Adv'99 as Maki and Daigo's team thanks to ▽) and is not well aware of the math lore",

But then... Shimomura's answer was like "Oh this is new for me too. Anyway Rui is not exactly a Chosen Child and is more likely a special and unique case" which is basically contradicted by everything 02TB-related as well -- interviews, promotional stuff, etc.

(also the interviewer misquote Rui's statements in-movie, since Rui was not even aware of that term and the ones to claim he was indeed the first there were the 02 kids.)

I've been talking with a friend about this quite recently and i'm confused now... What does that whole question even MEAN what's up with that answer!?

(I hope this is not ▽ negative tho, because i do love Maki-Daigo and i want them to coexist with Rui, i'm trying to make them WORK with the lore... Even by soft-retconning a few details of them orz)

Yeah, so about that...I apologize for the language, but this is one of those rare occasions where you just have to flat-out discard an official statement as bullshit. Shimomura's answer doesn't make sense by any kind of logic whatsoever:

In Adventure continuity, being a "Chosen Child" has an extremely loose definition (which is even acknowledged in Two-and-a-Half Year Break). The only consistent definition of a Chosen, and the one thing that distinguishes cases like Oikawa, Hiroki, and Hikari and Taichi in 1995 from kids who can actually be called Chosen, is that Chosen Children have Digivices (i.e. them being "chosen" is not for anything specific, but being formalized with a Digivice means they now have a responsibility). So by definition, as a kid who was sent a Digimon and a Digivice by some entity, Rui is a Chosen. There's no good argument for him to not be a Chosen.

And of course, even if in the movie they didn't claim that Rui was the first Chosen with that exact wording, basically every bit of promotional and advertising material and member of staff has referred to him as the first Chosen. Like this isn't a "Menoa says that Digimon disappear because they became adults" situation where the advertising would have this "they learn from Menoa that..." indirect tone about it; everyone else has been completely unambiguous about the fact Rui is meant to be taken as the first Chosen. Otherwise, why would they make such a big deal about picking that specific year for Rui to meet Ukkomon, or, hell, what's the point of naming the movie "The Beginning"? That would arguably make advertising the movie as being about the first Chosen into advertising fraud or something.

This is a response to a question asking how Himekawa and Nishijima would be Chosen if Rui was the first Chosen Child, because the contradiction makes this not make sense. But even if you take Shimomura's idea of Rui being the "first one to form a partner relationship with a Digimon", that still doesn't explain anything nor does it resolve the contradiction because Himekawa and Nishijima also clearly had partner relationships with their Digimon in their childhoods too. Like again, it's practically advertising fraud if Rui isn't the first something.

As for why Shimomura would say something like this, the whole "this is new to me too" already hints at the idea she wasn't very well-informed about this issue or series Deepest Lore (in particular, it's pretty likely she didn't know much about tri., given she was two producers ahead of it, and her article series on Digimon Partners suggests she's pretty new to Digimon production as a whole). So I doubt this answer was very well-thought through, especially since everyone else involved in the movie has been pretty clear about being timeline-precise.

The other likely reason is that, when you think about it, this question is inherently an unsolvable trap for a producer like her. If you know the actual Digimon Adventure series production timeline, tri. was unilaterally the one that went off-kilter here; Adventure lore alone dictates that you can't have Chosen before 1995, so there is a correct answer here, and it's simply that tri. messed up and that going back to original Adventure canon for Kizuna and 02TB required throwing a lot of it out. This has generally been the implicit stance that's been taken since even back during Kizuna; most glaringly, tri. was just flat-out omitted in an official timeline, which has to carry some meaning because one does not just accidentally omit a series that was advertised as an Adventure sequel and was basically the core of the franchise for five real-life years.

I don't get the impression it's "tri. isn't canon anymore" as much as it's "we have to ignore so many substantial details of tri. that it may not be correct to call it the same thing anymore," which is consistent with the way "canon" has been loosely treated in the franchise in general. But the thing is, the reason why they're being implicit about it instead of saying it all-out is that, yeah, if they say it in explicit words, that's going to piss off everyone who's going to see that as five years being tossed down the drain, let alone tri. fans who will basically see their favorite being spit on in public. (If you ask me, I don't see "messing up lore points" as having inherent ties to writing quality, and I don't think the creators do either, but lore can be Serious Business to Japanese fans, so officially saying that something violates lore can easily be taken as public shaming; even the few times they've brought up lore contradictions have gotten people mad in some way.)

So while I definitely wish she'd have given an answer that was less obviously bullshit, Shimomura did kind of have to give a bullshit answer in order to not piss someone off, since her job as a producer is less about the creative writing and more about juggling the interests of the movie as a whole. This also wouldn't be our first instance of this kind of situation; it's generally been hinted by staff members that Seki's claim of every version of Akiyama Ryou being the same character was also something she was forced to say in order to not have to say something like "yeah the WonderSwan games aren't canon actually" (which would piss off their fans and Bandai).

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x51 - Hell's Jester, Piemon / The Crest of Friendship

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Jou decided he needs to forge his own path by following in Yamato's footsteps. Meanwhile LadyDevimon made everybody extremely uncomfortable as part of Piemon's master plan to squick the Chosen Children into leaving his front door.

Now, with LadyDevimon's death, Piemon has come out to attend to what remains of the assault team in person.

We open on Jou searching for Yamato, while Yamato's harmonica music paradoxically plays in the background.

Narrator: Around this time, Jou, with harmonica in hand, was searching for Yamato. Gomamon: JOU, LOOK!!!

Gomamon draws Jou's attention to an abandoned swan boat.

Gomamon: IT'S YAMATO'S BOAT!!! He must be around here! Jou: But we don't know how long it's been here. We aren't even certain that Yamato was the one who used it. Gomamon: That's fine! We're sure to find him. By now, Yamato probably also thinks that it's about time he rejoined us anyway.

Jou examines Yamato's harmonica.

Jou: You're right. It was my idea to go look for Yamato. I can't be having second thoughts now! Gomamon: Yeah, exactly! You've become a lot more manly lately. Jou: What's that supposed to mean? (playful, pokes Gomamon) Are you saying I wasn't manly enough before?

Jou and Gomamon both break into laughter. Gomamon seems very pleased by Jou's decision to forge his own path, but he was also satisfied when they were still with Mimi's nakama. So it seems like Gomamon's just happy regardless of what Jou chooses.

As with Gabumon, it's most important to Gomamon that Jou be the one to make the choice for himself.

The dub opens by implying that Joe and Gomamon have been searching for a while now.

Joe: We've looked everywhere, Gomamon, but we still can't find Matt. Gomamon: Maybe your harmonica playing has been keeping him in hiding. Joe: (sarcastic) Mm. Everybody's a critic. Gomamon: Hey, Joe! LOOK OVER THERE!!! Joe: What is it? (Swan Boat) Gomamon: It's Matt's boat! He must be close by! Joe: But we have no idea of when he left it, or if he was using it at all! Come on, we'd better keep looking. Gomamon: Don't be such a downer; This is our first clue in a long time and I want to see a little Get Up and Go-mamon!" (Joe inspects the harmonica) Joe: I guess I'm still pessimistic 'cause when we found Matt's harmonica, it led us nowhere. But you're right. He could be nearby. Gomamon: Now, that's the spirit, Joe! You've become a real man lately! Joe: Oh, I get it now. (playful, pokes Gomamon) So you're saying that I wasn't a real man before, huh? Gomamon: (laughing uncontrollably) Joe: Are you man enough not to laugh when I tickle you?

This is really good. The bits about their search fudge the events a bit. They followed the harmonica music to Elecmon, who told them about the swan boat. Then they crossed the lake to pursue the swan boat, and now they've found the swan boat. This has been a pretty straightforward tracking mission so far.

The dub seems to imply that, after crossing the lake, they found nothing and had to wander aimlessly for a long time. But now they've stumbled back onto the trail by chance. This is a much messier version of events.

However, the playful banter between the two is a top-notch and entirely faithful adaptation of the original dialogue. Dub Gomamon also implies that Joe's been (badly) trying to play Matt's harmonica in the time since we last saw him, which is a funny mental image.

Meanwhile, outside Piemon's observatory, WarGreymon is on the offensive.

Calling Dramon Killer as an attack, WarGreymon volleys rapid-fire stabs at Piemon but struggles to land any of them. Piemon darts and weaves too easily through his attacks.

WarGreymon finally manages a solid hit when he surprises Piemon with a kick, knocking him back into the roots of a large tree. But Piemon picks himself up, seemingly no worse for wear.

Taichi: GOT HIM!!! Piemon: Muhahahahaha! Do Chosen Children truly rely on such childish tricks? Taichi: (surprised) What!? Piemon: My expectations have been dashed. I thought you'd be tougher than this. Koushiro: WarGreymon's attacks aren't having any effect at all! Hikari: (worried) Onii-chan, are we okay? Taichi: (determined) We're fine.

This fight is going badly. They landed a hit, but didn't seem to do any damage and had their successful hit written off as 子供騙し kodomodamashi, a composite of 子供 kodomo meaning "child" and 騙しdamasi which means "deception".

Kodomodamashi is a transparent, juvenile trick that only a child would think is clever.

Of course, what it says about Piemon that he fell for a kodomodamashi goes unremarked upon due to how intimidating he is right now.

In the dub, WarGreymon calls Dramon Killer as "Mega Claw". Probably to avoid the K word, even though they already solved that problem in the past by calling them "Dramon Destroyers".

Tai: I think we won! Piedmon: Hahahahahahahaha! Thank you for the sparring match, WarGreymon. Now I'm ready for the main event. Tai: Oh, no! Piedmon: Once upon a time, there were these DigiDestined. And then Piedmon destroyed them all. The end. Izzy: No offense to your storytelling skills, but I'd like it better if your ending were different. WarGreymon: IT WILL BE!!! Kari: We can't win unless we're all together! Tai: (worried) Where are they!?

This scene is very different. Piedmon isn't so dismissive of the children's abilities here; He simply blusters menacingly, including a callback to the Dark Masters' debut when he told the kids a twisted faerie tale of their own impending deaths.

Kari and Tai here use their lines to remind the audience that we're trying to buy time for reinforcements to arrive. It also makes a stronger transition into the next scene, as we find Sora and Takeru searching for the others.

Angemon seems to have reverted to Patamon between episodes, as the three of them are all riding Birdramon's talons. Sora uses her Digivice's radar function to try and scan for the others.

Sora: The Digivice still isn't reacting to anything. Patamon: The powers of darkness must be too strong. Sora: (thinking) How are we supposed to find them in this vast Digimon World? Takeru: ...Sora-san? Sora: What? Takeru: Will we find Onii-chan? And all of the others? Sora: ... Takeru: Sora-san? Sora: We'll find them, no matter what. (starting to freak out) If we can't then we're all.... Takeru: Sora-san! Sora: Ah! Takeru: ...are you okay? Sora: (polite laugh) Sorry about that. I'm fine! We'll find them.

Despite the fact that Sora is clearly only pretending to be okay while the stress eats her alive from within, Takeru accepts that answer with a smile. He's eight.

Sora: (thinking) I have to bring everyone back, or else we won't be able to defeat Piemon. This world... We won't be able to stop it from being destroyed.

Despite her attempt to keep Takeru from fretting over it, the stakes coupled with the seeming impossibility of her task are weighing heavily on Sora's mind.

In the dub:

Sora: The Digivice isn't responding at all. Patamon: I hope we find them soon; I'm getting airsick. Sora: (thinking) We'll never find them all. The Digital World is too big. They could be anywhere. T.K.: Hey, Sora? Sora: What? T.K.: We'll be able to find Matt and the others, right? Sora: (thinking) Should I tell him the truth? T.K.: Well, Sora? Sora: The only thing I can say, T.K., is.... (crying noises) T.K.: ...are you alright? You're not crying, are you? Sora: Just something in my eye! Don't worry! We'll find them, T.K! (T.K. smiles) Sora: (thinking) We'll find the others because we have to! Unless we fight as a team, we'll never defeat Piedmon! We can't let him destroy the Digital World!

Pretty straight adaptation.

They cut Sora's implication that Piemon is going to kill them all, replacing it with Sora breaking down into non-verbal sobbing.

Cutting back to the fight, WarGreymon attempts to land his Brave Tornado. It's gone two for two on Ultimate opponent kills so it's a good choice.

It does not go well. Continuing to fight circles around him, Piemon hurdles the attack with a jolly flip. Emerging from the ensuing dust cloud with scuff marks all over his armor, WarGreymon looks like he did more damage to himself with that attack than to Piemon.

Tailmon: He's strong! Hikari: Onii-chan-- Taichi: Everyone, stay back! Hikari: But why, Onii-chan!? Taichi: Wait until Yamato and the others get here! You just fought LadyDevimon; You need time to recover your stamina!

Taichi is still thinking ahead. Focusing on the next fight and not this one, even though the next fight is technically a part of this one. Banking not on winning this fight, but on WarGreymon holding the line until they can hit Piemon all at once.

The dub calls Brave Tornado as Terra Force.

Gatomon: He's tough. Kari: We should all fight. Tai: Everyone stay where you are! Kari: But Tai! Why not!? Tai: The Digimon are still too tired from our fight with LadyDevimon. We have to wait until we're at full strength, when Matt and the others rejoin us.

Another faithful adaptation. Kari does manage to spell out what she wants to do, where Taichi cuts off Hikari and leaves it implied. But what she wants is clearly the same in both versions.

From there, we finally go check in with Yamato and see what he's up to. He is in a hole.

Narrator: After Yamato separated from Taichi's group and became a solitary child, he tried to put his thoughts in order. Before he knew what was happening, he found himself lost, wandering through a dark cave. Gabumon: Yamato.... I have a bad feeling about this cave. Let's hurry up and find a way out. Yamato: Yeah. You're right.

Yamato agrees verbally with Gabumon, but he doesn't hurry up. Instead, he loses himself in memories, flashing back on Takeru announcing that he rescued himself from Pinocchimon's mansion.

(Flashback) Takeru: I was able to protect myself all on my own this time! (End Flashback) Yamato: (stops walking) I.... Gabumon: Huh? What is it, Yamato? Yamato: I kept saying that Takeru needed me. The truth is, I was the one that needed him. Convincing myself that Takeru needed me is how I found my place. But.... (Flashback) Hikari: That's incredible! Taichi: That's awesome, Takeru! Congrats! Mimi: We were so worried about you! Jou: You sure have grown up, without any of us realizing. (End Flashback) Yamato: Takeru has everyone supporting him. And Taichi acted more like a real big brother than I ever did.

Yamato doesn't answer. Silently, he starts walking deeper into the dark cave.

The dub takes its first commercial break following the previous scene, then we come back to Matt. They don't have the narrator to poetically set up Matt's metaphorical-made-literal surroundings, so Gabumon has to do the job. He plays the spooky cave for nervous laughs.

Gabumon: Matt? Matt: Yeah, Gabumon? Gabumon: Maybe we've been traveling in this direction a little too long. This cave is starting to give me the creeps. Let's hurry up and get out of here! I'm still not sure what you mean by 'trying to find yourself' but I'd appreciate it if you didn't look in here! Matt: Sure. Whatever.

The dub's flashback is only slightly altered; T.K. says "I told you I'd be back" instead of "I told you I could do it." But it's by far the most consistent a dub flashback has been yet.

(Flashback) T.K.: See, everybody? I told you I'd be back! I can take care of myself just fine! (End Flashback) Matt: I've been living a lie. Gabumon: You're not a real blond!? Matt: (heavy sigh) I kept saying T.K. needed me but, really, I was the one that needed him. Gabumon: What do you mean? Matt: I used to think that my one purpose in life was to protect my little brother. But then.... (Flashback) Kari: You're the man! Tai: Nice going, T.K.! Great job, buddy! Mimi: We were so worried about you! Joe: Boy, for a little kid, that was a pretty big escape! (End Flashback) Matt: He didn't need me to protect him anymore. And Tai was much better at acting like a big brother than I ever was....

Tonally inappropriate blond quip aside, this is still a pretty straight adaptation.

Gabumon's not about to let that last remark from Yamato go unquestioned.

Gabumon: What are you talking about? You are Takeru's older brother, Yamato! Yamato: I don't deserve to be Takeru's big brother. I just used Takeru so that I could feel secure in my place as his brother. I needed to believe that Takeru had no one else but me.

As Yamato speaks, a tendril of concentrated darkness moves through the cave behind him. Yamato, unnoticing, sits down in the cave and pulls his knees to his chest.

Yamato: That's why I got so mad at Taichi. I felt like he was trying to take Takeru away from me. Taichi is decisive and has strong leadership. Most of all, he treats Takeru like a man. Gabumon: Now what's brought this on, Yamato? There are so many great qualities that are unique to you too! Yamato: I always thought of Taichi as tactless and dim-witted, but I just couldn't see. Gabumon: Yamato....

This is the discussion they were trying to have back with Jureimon. This time, Jureimon isn't here to direct Yamato's anxieties. But Yamato's been thinking about this long enough for his anxieties to become self-sustaining.

He's still wandering the forest of lost souls.

In the dub:

Gabumon: But you don't have to act. You are T.K.'s brother! Tai isn't! Matt: That's just the point. I don't act like a brother at all. And even though it made me feel good to think that I was the only one there for him, in reality, all the kids were. Gabumon: Let's talk about this outside. There's something strange about this place.... Matt: That's why Tai made me so mad! I thought he was trying to take T.K. away from me! (Matt sighs and sits by the wall) Matt: Tai might be real bossy and hard-headed sometimes but he never treated T.K. like a child, which is how I've always treated him. But I'm the one who's childish. Gabumon: Matt, stop putting yourself down! Sure, you have some teenage angst, but you've been a great brother to T.K.! Matt: I used to think Tai never thought about anyone but himself, but that actually describes me a lot better. Ugh.... Gabumon: Oh, Matt....

"You have some teenage angst", Gabumon? I'll take "Lines that remind you that these children were written by thirty-year-olds".

(Matt isn't even a teenager!)

Gabumon gets an extra line so he can say, "Can we have this conversation in a less spooky and thematically resonant place?" Which is a valid interjection.

Suddenly, Gabumon notices the swirling darkness around them.

Gabumon: (gasp) Yamato! Something's wrong with this place!

The darkness of the cave surrounds and engulfs Yamato. He doesn't even seem to notice as it pours into him; His eyes glazing over with darkness.

Yamato: There's no hope for me. I can't go back and rejoin the others' nakama. Gabumon: STOP THAT!!! (scolding) Without you, Yamato... If the eight of you don't come together then this world is doomed! Yamato: They don't need me. It wouldn't matter if I was there or not. Gabumon: YAMATO, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!! Yamato: Forget it. Just leave me alone. Gabumon: HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!?!? Yamato: ... Gabumon: (tearing up) Yamato....

Gabumon's saying correct things but it doesn't matter when the other person is not in a mindset to be told. Yamato's depression is spiraling, and he's dissociating. He's not really here in this conversation, and eventually he stops responding entirely.

This is intercut with imagery of Yamato sinking into a vast, bottomless ocean of darkness.

In the dub:

Gabumon: (gasp) OH, MATT!!! I THINK YOU'D BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!!! Matt: Whatever. I'm no good. I can never go back to being their friend. Gabumon: You have to! Don't you understand that if the eight of you don't get back together, the Digital World will be destroyed forever! Matt: They don't need me. And besides, seven is a luckier number than eight. Gabumon: HEY, MATT, SNAP OUT OF IT!!! Matt: Just go away. I want to be alone. Gabumon: Come to your senses! Matt: ... Gabumon: (tearing up) Matt, listen....

Super inappropriate time for a quip, dub team. Again, this is pretty straightforward in its translation, apart from the futile attempts to inject levity.

At this point, Yamato shuts down entirely. He's as still as the grave, and trying to break through with reason has failed. Only one option left: Resort to violence.

Gabumon bites down on Yamato's leg hard enough to break him out of his dissociation. Yamato gets up suddenly, backhanding Gabumon off of him.

Yamato: OW!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!?

As Yamato stands up, there's a single-frame animation error where he and his darkness aura briefly separate. As a mistake, Yamato physically goes back to his previous frame instead of into the next frame of his standing up animation, then teleports to a standing position in the frame after. Meanwhile his aura continues on into the next frame and then the one after like it was supposed to.

The aura goes 2-3-4-5 while Yamato goes 2-3-2-5.

This implies that Yamato and the aura are being animated separately, which I find fascinating. How did this mistake happen, I wonder?

Anyways.

Gabumon: There is only one Yamato in this world! Am I wrong!? So then why do you keep comparing yourself to Taichi!? Obviously you and Taichi are different! You're Takeru's big brother, aren't you? It makes no sense to say Taichi's a better brother than you are! Yamato: ...Gabumon...? Gabumon: Besides.... What would I do if you were gone!? I spent so long in this world waiting for you, and you alone! Yamato: Gabumon.... Gabumon: Do you truly want to be alone, Yamato? Because if so, then I'll leave this place by myself. But only if that's what you really want.

Gabumon's teethmarks in Yamato's leg do wonders for getting him to pay attention and engage with what Gabumon is saying. This time, he seems to actually be listening and processing Gabumon's words.

In the dub:

Matt: OW!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!? ARE YOU CRAZY!?!? Gabumon: Don't you understand, Matt!? You've got to quit comparing yourself to Tai! You're not him! It's like ice cream; He's vanilla and you're rocky road. But only one of you is T.K.'s real brother and it's not him! No matter how much he impresses T.K., Tai will never be able to break the bond that you two brothers share! Matt: Gabumon.... Gabumon: And besides, don't you think it would break my heart if you weren't here? After all, I didn't wait my entire life for you to arrive just so you can wallow in self-pity! Matt: Huh? Gabumon.... Gabumon: But Matt, if you really want to be left alone, then I'll respect your wishes and disappear. But only if that's what you really want me to do.

Accusing people of wallowing in self-pity is rarely a convincing argument against continuing to wallow in self-pity, Gabumon. In fact, that's a great way to kill an intervention by getting them defensive.

This was a little thing that's slowly been compounding but I don't like Gabumon's tone of voice in the dub. In the original, he's pouring his heart out and sounds on the verge of breaking down in tears. Which makes sense since he's actively crying.

The dub voice sounds aggressive and accusatory. There's not as much empathy for Matt here as there is for Yamato.

Also, they're still desperately trying to insert quips to keep this light, and they are failing miserably. This is still a dark and serious conversation even with Gabumon and Matt making tonally-inappropriate jokes here and there.

Faced with Gabumon's emotional earnestness, Yamato clenches his fist and answers.

Yamato: No. When I said I wanted to be alone... that was a lie. I was putting on a front. Since I was young, I've been pushing people away like that. But the truth is....

Yamato flashes back on his parents' divorce. The camera closes in on his face, as he watches Natsuko take Takeru away.

Yamato: Really, I'm lonely. I told myself no one would ever see me cry. If I had to be alone, then I was going to be a great man who can do anything by myself. But... what I wanted to do was cry. Gabumon: Yamato.... Yamato: (crying) I hate being alone.

Gabumon pulls Yamato into a hug.

Gabumon: I'm here for you! You can depend on me the way I depend on you. If you do that, then we can persevere (ganbaru) through anything!

Finally, Yamato unpacks the effects that his divorce trauma has had on him. Like Gabumon said back at the Jureimon encounter, Yamato is still, deep down, an empathetic young boy who wants to be loved and accepted by others. We've seen it multiple times throughout the series. He's always been driven by his empathy, even if he couldn't acknowledge it.

But he closes up and becomes defensive when his nerves are exposed. His fear of abandonment motivates him to push people away and try to act like a lone wolf. Even though he's really, truly not one, and never has been.

If anything, by his behavior, he's always been Team Mom, constantly looking out for the welfare of the group as a whole. Because that is his truth, buried beneath the lie he's been trying to convince himself to believe.

In the dub:

Matt: No, I don't really want to be left alone. Sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I've never let anyone get close to me before. Not since my family split up. (Brief divorce flashback) Matt: Ever since then, I've been alone. I figured if my family didn't want me, then I would just keep to myself and never tell anyone what I was feeling. And I swore I would never let anyone see me cry. But really, all I wanted to do was cry. Gabumon: Then cry. Matt: (crying) I hate being alone. (Gabumon pulls Matt into a hug) Gabumon: I'm here for you, Matt! I used to be lonely too! I wandered around the Digital World without any friends at all! And then, after I met you, I'd never be lonely again!

Yamato says that his lone wolf behavior is a deliberate ruse. That his behavior is fake. He pretends (poorly) to be a self-made island of a man who doesn't need anything or anyone, as a defense mechanism. But really, his behavior only isolates him further and makes him irate and miserable.

He is a very unhappy social butterfly, because he denies himself connection and pours all of his need for human contact onto Takeru. Who, as previously noted, slips through his armor because he can lie further and tell himself that he doesn't need anything but Takeru needs him.

Matt touches on that, but only goes as far as to say that he keeps people at arm's length. He explains that he closed himself off because "my family didn't want me", which is an obviously untrue childish exaggeration. Especially since we've met his family and we know how they feel about him.

Yamato describes himself as 一人 hitori, alone, as a result of the divorce, but doesn't cast blame for it. His story is focused on what happened in his head due to the divorce. He never implies that his parents hurt him intentionally.

Which makes it seem like this whole thing came from Matt just... misunderstanding the cause of his parents' divorce and thinking they broke up because of him. Yamato needs therapy. Matt needs a hug from his mom.

Then Dub Gabumon starts bald-faced lying about his background. Gabumon has never been alone. From the day he hatched, he's had a social network around him. He's thinking of Gatomon. He stole her backstory in order to pretend he could relate. The bastard.

Credit for letting Matt cry in the dub, though. Past episodes have taken a strong anti-boys crying stance, so that was a pleasant surprise to see.

Inspired and touched by Gabumon's words, Yamato responds.

Yamato: (smiling) You're right. Gabumon, because you were with me, I was able to make it this far. Even in the depths of this dark cave, you're still here, chasing after me. I don't have to be alone. Gabumon: Yamato! Yamato: I have the nakama too. And Takeru, Dad, and Mom.

Yamato flashes back again. This time, rather than the divorce, he sees the reunion with his parents and Takeru shortly after VenomVamdemon's defeat.

Yamato: (thinking) I'm sure I'll look much happier next time. Dad! Mom!

In the dub:

Matt: I know what you mean. Me too. After all, you're the main reason I came to the Digital World in the first place. And here I am, lost in this dark, strange cave, and you're still right by my side. That's the sign of a true friend. Gabumon: Aw, shucks. Matt: I guess I have friends. And that includes T.K. and my Mom and Dad! (Brief flashback) Matt: (thinking) Now I realize I was never really alone. People like me. They really, really like me!

Matt says "you're the main reason I came here" like that was a choice he made.

As a finisher, "People really like me" feels like a much weaker closing argument than "I'll look much happier next time my family sees me" in my opinion, but that may just be personal taste. This isn't incorrect; I just don't like it as much.

As Yamato self-actualizes, the darkness is purged from him and rises into the cave, swirling overhead. At last, Yamato sees it for himself.

Gabumon: Yamato, look! Yamato: What is that? Gabumon: It was coiling around you this whole time! Didn't you notice? Yamato: Not at all. Gabumon: I think it was trying to get inside your heart, Yamato. Yamato: It's black. ...I understand. These are the black feelings that I was experiencing just now. But you're wrong. Gabumon: About what? Yamato: That thing wasn't trying to get inside of me. It pulled out the darkness I already had inside. I think I've been carrying that darkness deep in my heart all this time. Gabumon: I see. Yamato: My isolation is what drew this darkness into me. But everything is different now!

Adding onto the thematically resonant nature of this hyperbolic place, the dark swirly-swirl is itself the manifestation of Yamato's feelings.

(I believe he has found the part of the Digital World that came from Silent Hill's data.)

In the dub:

Gabumon: Matt, look! Matt: What is it!? Gabumon: It's been around you this whole time! You mean you haven't noticed it until now? Matt: Not at all. Gabumon: It was weird. The more you talked about being alone, the bigger that thing got. Matt: It's pitch-black. ...that's exactly the feeling I had in my heart just a minute ago. I know what it is! Gabumon: Please tell me. Matt: It's the darkness that I've been carrying around with me this whole time. The darkness that's been buried in my heart. Oh, Gabumon, now it's ready to swallow me up whole! Gabumon: Like Jonah and the whale? Yamato: I have a feeling that if I didn't recognize it just now, it would have taken over my whole life. But I'm not gonna let that happen!

(spit take)

Okay so we can't use the word "holy" but referencing specific Bible passages is fine.

Then again, there was that one time Sora's mom yelled "Christ", but I'm still convinced that was an ad-lib no one caught.

Man, threading the needle of acceptable Christian references under 90's cartoon censorship is hard.

In any case, this is pretty solid. My one note is that they again removed the discussion of Yamato's feelings of isolation. Matt says this is the darkness he carries but does not go into detail about where that darkness came from, what it means for him personally. Instead, he treats it like an external threat trying to destroy him.

Which is. Y'know. The opposite of what this scene is meant to convey about Yamato's internalized darkness. That's his little trauma ball up there. Let's whack it with a stick! A stick made of love.

(Not you, Sora, this is not your time yet. Yamato has to learn to love himself first.)

Yamato: After all, I'm not alone anymore! Gabumon: That's right! Yamato: Thank you, Gabumon. Gabumon: Yamato! I've always, always wanted to thank you, ever since we met!

Yamato hugs Gabumon, and as they embrace, the swirling mass of Yamato's darkness disintegrates into pixels.

(God, I hope that thing isn't going to reincarnate into a Digitama. ...oh, wait, the Village of Beginnings is... Aww, I made myself sad. Piemon's darkness domain sucks! I hate it here!)

Yamato: You've been by my side, and I never realized. I've always had you! Gabumon: (happiness noises) Yamato: (stands up and grips Gabumon's claws) You might have to put up with a lot from me from now on, but I'm counting on you. Gabumon: I can handle that. Yamato: And I'm not going to complain anymore. Gabumon: It's fine! You can complain to me all you want. Haha! Yamato: Alright, then. I'll whisper my complaints to you very softly.

Gabumon and Yamato share a laugh. As they do, the cave around them distorts and fizzles out of existence. It was never real to begin with.

In the dub:

Matt: It can't hurt me because I'm not alone anymore. Gabumon: That's the spirit! Matt: I want to thank you, Gabumon. Gabumon: Don't mention it. That's what friends are for. Besides, I should be thanking you! You're the best friend a Digimon ever had. (Matt hugs Gabumon) Matt: Let's make a promise that we'll always be there for each other, no matter what happens. Gabumon and Matt, friends for life. Gabumon: (happiness noises) Matt: (stands up and grips Gabumon's claws) What do you say? Do we have a deal? A handshake makes it official. Gabumon: Will a pawshake do? Matt: And I promise not to complain anymore either. Gabumon: Don't start that again. If you're upset about something, you should get it off your chest. Matt: Alright, if you insist. I'll still complain once in a while, but only to you!

I appreciate Dub Gabumon calling Matt out for the "no complaining" thing. No, Yamato, suppressing your feelings and refusing to communicate what's going on with you is not the correct takeaway from this. Try again! Use your words! XD

The dub's take on the cave scene has been touch and go but I like this part. And yes, you are permitted a quip here. Now is the proper time for tension-killing gags.

As the cave fizzles out of existence, Yamato and Gabumon unpack what that was just now.

Gabumon: The both of us were just inside this huge cave of darkness.... Yamato: We've been lost for a very long time.... Jou: HEEEEEEEEEEY!!! YAMATOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Due to a lack of pronoun, it's unclear if Yamato is saying "We've been lost" as in they were in the cave for a long time or "I've been lost" as a reference to the psychological cage he'd imprisoned his mind in for years. This ambiguity may be deliberate, as both are appropriate context for this scene.

The abrupt sound of Jou screaming for them brings Yamato back to the present.

Yamato: (surprised) Jou!

Jou sprints up to Yamato, then stops and gasps for breath. Once he's caught his breath, he starts laughing and whips around to face Gomamon.

Jou: Ahahahahaha! I told you we'd find him! Gomamon: I never said we wouldn't. Yamato: (amused) What's all this, now? Jou: While we were walking here, I told myself everything would be fine as long as I believe in my path! Yamato: I see. Jou: Oh! Here.

Jou offers Yamato's harmonica to him.

Jou: This is your harmonica, isn't it?

Yamato takes it, closing his hand around it and closing his eyes for a moment. Basking in sentimentality. Then he opens his eyes again.

Yamato: Thank you.

Mission complete! I hope this helps Jou feel better about himself.

As Gabumon and Matt unpack the cave experience, the dub doesn't quite capture the poetry of the original.

Gabumon: Uh, correct me if I'm wrong on this one, Matt, but weren't we just in a big, dark cave a minute ago? Matt: That's right, and we were completely lost! Joe: HEY!!! MATT!!! OVER HERE!!! Matt: It's Joe! (Joe runs up, then stops to catch his breath) Joe: Hahahahaha! Who's the man now? I told you I'd find him! Gomamon: I never doubted you for a single minute, Joe! Matt: What's going on? Joe: I said to myself, "Joe," I said, "Just follow your own path and sooner or later you'll run into Matt!" I'm just glad it happened before I retired! Matt: I see! Joe: Oh! That's right. I forgot. Here. It's your harmonica, isn't it? (Joe gives Matt his harmonica) Matt: Thanks, Joe.

Joe's a little dub Joe about it but the whole exchange between him and Matt is nonetheless pretty accurate.

From here, we cut back to the fight with Piemon.

Piemon fires off his Trump Sword, throwing four swords at WarGreymon two-by-two. WarGreymon deflects the first pair with his Dramon Killer gauntlets, but the second pair slice past his exposed legs.

Then, moving of their own volition, the four swords fly up into the air to rejoin each other and come back around for another go. This time, all four swords slice past WarGreymon unblocked, carving him up.

Koushiro: WarGreymon is.... Hikari: (covers her eyes) No! I can't watch! Taichi: Shit!

Further attacks from the persistent projectiles bring WarGreymon to his knees. With WarGreymon struggling to even stand back up, the swords return to Piemon. Two by two, he catches and re-sheaths them on his back.

(Piemon vs. King Bradley, go!)

Tentomon: (distraught) Koushiro-han, put me in! Taichi: DON'T!!! Koushiro: (uncertain) Taichi-san!? Taichi: (thinking) Yamato, hurry!

Taichi's still holding the others in reserve for when the real battle begins, but he's running out of time and the others are beginning to question his decision.

The dub keeps the name Trump Sword for Piedmon's attack.

Izzy: WarGreymon's exhausted! Kari: (covers her eyes) I can't watch anymore! Tai: Stay tough! (WarGreymon continues to get slaughtered out there) Tentomon: Please, Izzy, let me help WarGreymon! Tai: No! Izzy: WarGreymon needs help! Tai: (thinking) Come on, Matt, where are you!?

Subtle change in that Izzy directly argues back at Tai. It's minor and makes sense for the dub's more assertive take on the character. Otherwise, mostly identical.

Cut to Sora and Takeru searching for the others.

Takeru: Ah! What's that?

Takeru points out Yamato's discarded swan boat.

Sora: Let's go take a look.

The Birdramon Express comes in low for a landing, and we go to commercial.

Can I just say that this swan boat is the unsung MVP of Digimon Adventure? Between this and the PicoDevimon sub-arc, it's put in so much overtime work to keep these children together despite their repeated insistence on splitting up.

In the dub:

T.K.: Look down there! Sora: That's Matt's boat! T.K.: But... where's Matt?

XD Sora, you weren't even there for the "Matt must have used the swan boat" conversation.

Hell, when they split up to reunite the team, it was Tai and Joe that took the boat across the lake! Matt stayed on land! You know this! You were stalking them!

Matt used the boat one time and suddenly everybody knows it as Matt's Boat forever. I hope this haunts him for life. I hope when they're forty years old, they're having a team reunion in the park and someone sees a swan boat on the lake and goes, "Matt, someone's stealing your boat!"

I mean. It is Matt's boat this time around.

But other people have used it too! That could be Mimi's boat! You don't know! XD

(Mimi, of course, having escaped being reunited by the boat this time around. Last time it was Koushiro who slipped the boat's notice. The boat does its best but there are many children and it can only do so much to gather them.)

Coming back from commercial, Sora and Takeru set foot on land.

Takeru: Onii-chan is nowhere to be found. Sora: (thinking, distraught) WHY!?!? At this rate, Taichi and the others.... (focused, determined) I'll find them. I promised! I have to find everyone and bring them back!

As if in response to her thoughts, a black void appears beneath Sora's feet. Darkness swirls, climbing up her legs. Takeru notices quickly

(There are benefits to being short.)

Takeru: Sora-san! Some black thing is crawling up your legs! Sora: Eh!?

Before she can react, a black void opens up beneath Sora, which then materializes into a deep, dark hole. Sora plunges into it.

Sora: (scream) Piyomon: SORA!!!

They don't emerge. Takeru stands at the edge, calling down into it.

Takeru: Sora-san!? SORA-SAAAAAAN!!!

(Did the boat know this would happen? Perhaps it is more nefarious than we realized. It did bring Yamato to Digitamamon's diner, after all....)

The dub lets Sora begin the conversation.

Sora: I hope he's not hurt somewhere. T.K.: We'll never find him. What are we going to do? Sora: (thinking) T.K.'s right. Maybe we should go back and help the others fight? (focused, determined) No. Tai asked me to find the others and that's what I'm going to do. I won't let him down! (Darkness appears and starts snaking up Sora's legs) T.K.: SORA, WATCH OUT!!! THERE'S SOME BLACK THING COMING OUT OF THE GROUND!!! Sora: Whuh? (Void becomes a hole and Sora falls in) Sora: (screams) Biyomon: (also screams, diving in) T.K.: Sora! SORAAAAAAAAA!!!

You get the impression that Sora's worried in the dub, but she's not quite at the "knife's edge of sanity" point that her Japanese counterpart is hanging out at.

Original Sora is hanging on by a thread, something that's apparent in both this and her previous scene. The stakes are so high but her task is seemingly impossible, and she's cracking under the pressure of those two conflicting realities.

In fact, this is the second time in as many scenes that she's had to suppress intrusive thoughts about Piemon killing them all. It's no wonder the darkness entity or whatever it is has taken an interest in her now.

Whether or not Sora can hear Takeru crying out for her, somebody does hear. Yamato and Jou come running.

Yamato: TAKERUUUUUUUUU!!! Takeru: (gasp) Onii-chan! Yamato: Takeru!

Yamato's first order of business is to hug his brother.

Takeru: Where were you!? I was so worried! Yamato: I'm sorry. I won't leave you like that again. I promise. Takeru: Huh? Onii-chan, you look a little different. Yamato: Don't worry about that, Takeru. What are you doing here, anyway?

Suddenly, Takeru remembers the current crisis. He points at the hole.

Takeru: Sora-san fell down there! Jou: (runs to the edge) EHHHH!?!? Sora-kun did!?

The boys peer down into the ominous unknown.

Takeru can be forgiven for being so excited to see Yamato again that he completely forgot Sora plummeted to her possible death two seconds ago. It's his brother, y'all.

In the dub:

Matt: T.K.!!! T.K.: Hey, that sounds like Matt! Matt: It sure does! (The brothers hug) T.K.: Oh, Matt, where have you been!? I was so worried about you! Matt: Sorry, T.K. I needed time to get my head straight, but I won't leave you again. I promise you. T.K.: Gee, Matt, you look different. Did you cut your hair or something? Matt: Nah, I just haven't been using as much gel. Where is everybody? T.K.: Some black thing pulled Sora down into that hole! Matt: Huh!? Joe: (runs to the edge) What!? Is she alright!?

I'm not sure the dub really understood the meaning behind Yamato "looking different", so they made a quip out of it. This is connected to Yamato saying that he'll look happier the next time his family sees him. Takeru's commenting on the visible change in Yamato's disposition.

Without that context, the quip's a bit of a non-sequitur, but it can be explained easily enough by T.K. having not seen Matt in a while.

I love the "That sounds like Matt!" "It sure does!" exchange. That's cute. ^_^

Gathering at the edge of the pit, the boys peer down into it. It looks eerily familiar to two of them.

Gabumon: Yamato, this.... Yamato: Yeah. This is the same cave we were trapped in earlier. Takeru: What is it? Jou: Whatever it is, we have to save her!

The boys climb down slowly into the black hole of darkness.

Jou: I have a bad feeling about this. Takeru: It's scary.... Yamato: It's okay! Don't be scared, Takeru. Your fear will agitate the darkness. Takeru: Oh! Got it!

Descending into the cave, a rock under Jou's foot gives way and he falls onto his butt.

Jou: UWAAGH!!! Oww..... Yamato: Are you okay? Jou: Yeah, the bottom wasn't too far down. I wasn't sure where I was falling to.

Once that's settled, Yamato directs the group's attention to the spooky cave.

Yamato: This is it. Jou: Where's Sora-kun? Takeru: It's so dark, I can't see. Patamon: I hear voices that way!

Everyone turns to look at the tunnel behind them.

Jou: (firmly) We'll start there.

Okay, I don't know about you guys but if someone said to me, "Your fear will agitate the darkness," that would be some scary shit that would absolutely not help me control my fear better. I was terrified of the scary hole and I am now pissing myself in the scary hole, thank you.

In the dub:

Gabumon: Hey, Matt, does this remind you of anything? Matt: Yeah! It looks just like that cave we were trapped in before. The same black thing must have gotten Sora! T.K.: You've seen it!? Joe: Come on, guys! We've gotta help her! (The boys start climbing down) Joe: I don't have a good feeling about this. T.K.: It's scary! Matt: Whatever you do, don't be afraid, okay, guys? I've realized that it's your fear that feeds the darkness. T.K.: That's easy for you to say! (Joe slips and falls) Joe: Wha--OW! Ugh.... Matt: Are you alright, Joe!? Joe: Yeah. Fortunately, I landed on the one part of my body that has a built-in airbag. (They face the cave) Matt: Very funny. Joe: Where's Sora? T.K.: We need a clue. Patamon: Listen! I think I hear something coming from over there! (Everyone turns to look) Joe: I'd call that a clue.

This is really good. I appreciate that T.K. calls Matt out for how scary that line was rather than just nodding and going, "Ah, gotcha."

They also manage to slip a well-placed quip in after Joe's fall. It's already a brief moment of levity so the quip fits in perfectly, and it doesn't replace any vital dialogue.

Following the voices, it doesn't take the group long to find Sora and Piyomon.

Piyomon: Sora! Sora, what's wrong with you? SORA, LISTEN TO ME!!! Gomamon: That's Piyomon's voice! Jou: Sora-kun must be with her!

The boys sprint down the tunnel until they find Sora and Piyomon. Sora's in the same position Yamato was in earlier: Sitting by the cave wall with her legs pulled up to her chest, covered in a black aura.

Piyomon: Sora! SORAAAAA!!! Takeru: SORA-SAAAAAAAN!!! Piyomon: Guys!

The boys surround Sora. Yamato tries to appeal to her.

Yamato: Sora, what's wrong? Get up.

After this incredibly convincing and thorough argument fails to budge Sora, Yamato tries violence.

(To be fair, it worked when Gabumon did it.)

He grabs Sora's arm and physically tries to pull her out of her sitting position.

Yamato: She won't budge. Jou: I'll help.

Jou grabs Sora's other arm and together they pull as hard as they can, thoroughly humiliating themselves as the black aura refuses to let go.

Jou: What the hell!? Did gravity change all of a sudden!?

Well, that was embarrassing. Great job, team.

In the dub:

Biyomon: Sora! Sora, talk to me! Please tell me what's wrong! Gomamon: That's Biyomon's voice! Joe: Which means Sora can't be far behind! (The boys start running) Biyomon: Sora! Sora! T.K.: Hang on, Biyomon! We're coming! Biyomon: Over here! (The boys surround Sora) Matt: Sora, what's the matter with you? Get up! (Matt pulls) Matt: She's stuck. Joe: Let me help. Matt: On three. One, two, three! (No dice) Joe: Once, it took four of us to get my grandmother off a toilet like that.

Gross. Can we go back to complaining about gravity?

Fine place for a quip, though. I just. Don't like the quip. <.<

After picking Sora up and carting her away like luggage has failed, we're back to talking.

Takeru: Sora-san is saying something. Jou: Huh? Sora: Have to keep looking for Mimi-chan... and Jou-senpai and Yamato-kun.... (crying) I have to save Taichi.... If I can't stop it, our world will end.... Piyomon: She hasn't answered me at all. She just keeps muttering the same thing over and over!

Jou kneels down and tries shaking Sora.

Jou: Yamato and I are right here! Look at me!

This seems to work. Sora looks up and sees Jou's face, though her eyes are glazed over with darkness just like Yamato's were before.

Sora: (deadpan as if in a trance) Senpai... Thank goodness.... And Yamato-kun too... Yamato: Don't worry, everything is fine. Sora: No, it's not. I can't go on like this. I'm supposed to be strong. I have to save Taichi... or the world.... Jou: Sora-kun, you're putting too much responsibility on yourself! Yamato: Sora! Your negative thoughts are turning into negative energy. The darkness in your heart is generating this cave! Jou: Wait, what!? Is that why you told Takeru not to be scared!? Yamato: This dark cave is a reflection of your dark feelings! Sora! You have to throw those feelings away! THROW THEM OUT!!!

Once again, Piemon's realm of darkness is an asshole. This is the worst stripe on Spiral Mountain. It's just concentrated death and despair.

In the dub:

T.K.: Hey, listen! Sora's saying something! Sora: I have to find Mimi... and Joe and Matt... I have to help Tai or the world will be destroyed! There's no place like home... There's no place like home.... Biyomon: She won't talk to me anymore. All she does is keep mumbling the same thing over and over again. Joe: Sora! Matt and I are right here! Look at me! Focus! Sora: Joe! You're really here... I can't believe it... and Matt's with you too! Matt: Just relax. Everything's going to be okay now. Sora: I'm afraid not. I haven't been trying hard enough. I have to get to Tai right away and help him fight because, if I don't, the world will be completely destroyed. Joe: Sora, come on! You can't be responsible for saving the world! Matt: You have to realize how strong your negative feelings are! They produce a powerful destructive energy! Sora, it's the darkness in your heart that has created the cave in the first place; Don't you get it!? Joe: Really, Matt? Is that true? Is that why you told T.K. not to be scared? Matt: Sora, listen to me. There's only one way to make this cave disappear. You've got to reach deep into your heart and erase all the negative feelings!

They start out by turning a portion of this sequence into an out-of-nowhere Wizard of Oz spoof, so that's a bad start.

The heightened aggression of the dub rears its head again. "Don't you get it!?" is a very unhelpful thing to say to someone who's having a panic attack.

From here, we zoom in on Sora's darkness-infused eye and enter her mind space. Sora floats in a black void, curled up just like she is in reality.

Sora: These feelings... What does that mean? Yamato: We're not doing this out of obligation, but because we want to do this. If you don't want to, then you don't have to. But I think it's because we wanted to do this that we made it this far. Sora: If I don't want to do it, then I don't have to.... Yamato: That's right! If you don't want to do it, then don't! Sora: That's... You're wrong! We have to do it!

Well, that was a bust. Yamato's putting in his best effort but Sora simply isn't receptive to the logic, "I mean you don't really have to save the world if you don't want to. It's fine to let your friends die and the world be destroyed. You think about what you really want."

If the stakes weren't so goddamn high, this might be a solid argument from Yamato. But as it is, it falls on deaf ears for predictable reasons.

In the dub:

Sora: I don't know if I can.... What should I do? Matt: You'll have to find the answer to that question on your own. Sora, this isn't the kind of thing you do just because you have to. If you're going to do it, then it has to be because you want to. Sora: You mean that I don't have to do it if I don't want to? Matt: Right. It will only work if you want to do it. Sora: I'm confused. How will I know what the right thing to do is?

Uh, point of order, she does not have to find the answer on her own. The whole point of this conversation is to help her find the answer. Matt didn't solve it himself when it was his turn either; Gabumon bit him in the leg to make him pay the fuck attention and then scolded him for three minutes!

Sora finds Matt's argument in the dub confusing and so do I. As opposed to original Sora finding Yamato's argument unconvincing, as did I.

Alright, senpai, you want to take a crack at this? Maybe Yamato doesn't feel the crushing weight of billions of lives on his shoulders, but Sora needs advice from someone who does.

Jou: Sora-kun! We're lost in a labyrinth and no one can help us, that may be true. But it's because we're the only ones capable of doing something about it that we're even here! Sora: We can do something about it.... Jou: Doesn't that thought fill you with courage? Sora: (excited) We can do something about it! Here and now!

That breaks through Sora's despair spiral. Inside her mind space, Jou and Yamato descend, each taking one of Sora's hands to pull her out. Back in physical space, the dark glaze vanishes from her eyes.

Sora: We can do it! That's right! Isn't that right? Yamato: And we're here for you. Takeru: Sora-san! Sora: (nods) Mhm! Piyomon: SORA!!!! (hug) Sora: Piyomon! Piyomon: Thank goodness, you're back to normal!

Awww. Yamato was trying to make it this a big philosophical thing about obligations and individual motivation. But really, all Sora needed was a pep talk from senpai. Legit, sometimes all it takes to change someone's entire day is to just tell them they're valid.

In the dub:

Joe: When this whole thing started, do you think we had any idea what the right thing to do was? Of course not! But that didn't stop us, did it? Maybe we're here for a reason. Maybe we're the only ones who can do it! Sora: We're the only ones who can make a difference.... Joe: It's working, Matt! I think we're finally getting through to her! Sora: (excited) We're the only ones... That's why we're here! (Sora wakes up) Sora: I get it now! You were right, Matt. How did you know? Matt: I kinda went through the same thing myself. T.K.: Welcome back! Sora: (nods, giggles) Biyomon: Sora! (hug) Sora: Biyomon! Biyomon: I'm so happy that you're the old Sora and not the new Sora!

With Sora's injection of positivity, the spooky despair cave once again fizzles out of existence.

Jou: It disappeared! Yamato: Because the darkness in Sora's heart disappeared. Sora: That was inside my heart...? Takeru: Hey! Taichi-san is waiting for us! Jou: Right! Yamato: To Taichi.... Let's go! Sora: YEAH!!!

It's not the full team of reinforcements that Sora was tasked with collecting. Mimi and her growing nakama are still out there. But she's got Yamato and Jou, and that will have to be enough.

In the dub:

Joe: The cave's gone! Matt: When the darkness from Sora's heart disappeared, so did the cave. Sora: I feel so relieved. T.K.: Boy, wait 'til Tai hears about this! Joe: Let's find him. Matt: Tai's waiting for us right now! Let's go! Sora: Right!

Minor difference: In the original, it's Takeru who reminds everyone on purpose that we need to hurry back to Taichi. In the dub, he casually mentions Tai and that's what gives Joe and Matt the idea that we need to go back.

This is part of the general trend of the dub trying to preserve T.K.'s innocence and childishness, which was particularly noticeable in the Puppetmon arc. But at this point, Takeru is as much a child soldier as the rest of them.

Cutting back to the fight.

Piemon fires the confusingly named Toy Wonderness at Taichi. Not even at WarGreymon; He attacks Taichi directly with a shockwave of compressed air.

WarGreymon jumps in the way and tries to block the shockwave, but enough force still gets through to throw Taichi a good ten or twenty feet.

Hikari: ONII-CHAN!!! Koushiro: Taichi-san!

Koushiro tries to run to Taichi, but Taichi calls out to him.

Taichi: KOUSHIRO, STAY BACK!!! You take care of Hikari.

Piemon hits him with another shot from Toy Wonderness. Again, WarGreymon blocks as much of it as he can, including a chunky bit; A large rock was lifted up by this shockwave, but it slams into WarGreymon's gauntlets and doesn't make it to Taichi. The wave, however, picks Taichi up off the ground and tosses him again.

WarGreymon crumples to one knee, doing his best to protect Taichi but running out of steam.

Koushiro: Taichi-san! I know protecting Hikari-san is the most important thing, but if this keeps up then you'll.... Tentomon: He's so stubborn! Taichi: (pained) It's fine. I can be stubborn or whatever. Just let me do this myself! I'll figure something out! Koushiro: No! That doesn't make any sense! Taichi: This is okay.... Koushiro: Taichi-san, do you really plan on doing this whole thing by yourself!? Taichi: Yes! What's wrong with that? Koushiro: You can't... Why!? Why won't you LET ME FIGHT WITH YOU!?!?

We rarely see Koushiro lose his cool. His politeness and civility is one of his most notable characteristics. So it's a big deal when he breaks down and starts screaming at Taichi.

The dub reuses the name Trump Sword for Toy Wonderness.

Kari: GET UP, TAI!!! Izzy: Hey, Tai! Tai: IZZY, STOP!!! You stay there! Protect Kari! (Second blast) Izzy: Tai, look. I know it's important for me to stay here and protect Kari, but in the meantime, who's going to protect you!? Tentomon: He tends to be a bit stubborn, doesn't he? Tai: (clearly barely holding on) Don't worry about me! I'm fine! I've got him right where I want him... He's exhausted.... Izzy: But I can help you! Tai: I'm fine! Izzy: That's funny. General Custer said the exact same thing at Little Big Horn. Tai: Thanks for the history lesson. Izzy: Alright then, just one thing. How come every time I ask, you NEVER LET ME JOIN IN THE FIGHT!?!?

I assume Izzy means this fight because Tai's let him join in plenty of other fights. In any case, his generally rude and dismissive demeanor means this moment of him snapping doesn't hit as hard as it does for Koushiro.

As with the darkness cave, they are trying very hard to soften things up with some quips.

Tai doing the half-conscious "I got him right where I want him!" bit and Izzy comparing him to a dead general keeps things silly and fun. This serves not to draw attention away from the fact that Piedmon is actively beating him to death as we speak, as the gags are still in service to the scene, but to make it feel less dire.

Unfortunately, Piemon's done with this. He lets off one more attack: Ending Snipe.

Clasping his hands together to make a finger gun, Piemon shoots off a bolt of energy. His shot shatters WarGreymon's armor and finally puts him down.

(So much for indestructible Chrome Digizoid. Everything has its limits.)

Hikari: WarGreymon! Taichi: War...! G-Greymo...on....

The last of Taichi's strength finally gives out. He collapses into the dirt.

Koushiro: TAICHI-SAN!!! Piemon: So, who wants to go next?

The dub renames Ending Snipe to Clown Trick, but at least they don't call this one Trump Sword too.

Kari: WarGreymon's been hit! Tai: No! WarGreymon... ugh.... (Tai collapses) Izzy: GET UP!!! Piedmon: Right, now who shall be next?

Suddenly, a voice rings out.

Yamato: TAICHIIIIIIIIII!!! Taichi: (weakly) ...Yamato...?

Taichi opens his eyes to see Garurumon and Birdramon on their way in, ferrying the missing Chosen Children except Mimi.

Yamato: TAICHI!!! Sora: TAICHI!!! Piemon: Some late arrivals. No matter; The result will be the same either way.

Piemon hangs out and does nothing while Yama runs to Taichi's side. He picks up Taichi and holds him.

Taichi: (weakly) You made it... I waited all this time for you.... Yamato: Taichi.... Taichi: I truly believed you'd come... I was certain of it.... Yamato: (tearing up) Thank you for believing in me. But I'm sorry I was so late. Taichi, you're my true friend! I won't let your friendship be in vain!

An interesting note is that Yamato doesn't use nakama here but instead goes for tomodachi. Nakama means we're working together towards the same goal. We're a team. Colleagues. Coworkers. Squadmates. And we will get to know each other and build social bonds as we move towards the same goal. That's normal.

Since Digitamamon's restaurant and up until the Jureimon incident, Yamato had become comfortable with being nakama with these people. But tomodachi, true and genuine friendship outside of the nakama's purpose? That was a bit further than he was willing to go.

But he doesn't just use tomodachi; He modifies it with honto as an adjective, which means "real, true, genuine, sincere" to show that he means it.

In the dub, we go to our last commercial after Tai passes out. Then we return to Tai passing out again to remind us where we left off.

Tai: WarGreymon... I'm coming.... Ugh... (passes out) Matt: TAI!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!? Tai: ...huh... Matt!? Matt: Hold on, buddy! We're coming! Sora: Tai, it's us! We're almost there! Piedmon: Once upon a time, there were DigiDestined. Now they're just sitting ducks, waiting for me to take target practice. (Matt picks up Tai and cradles him) Matt: Tai! Tai: Matt... you made it... I can't believe you're here.... Matt: Yeah, I made it, Tai. Hang in there, buddy. Tai: I never doubted you for a second, Matt... I know it didn't always seem that way.... Matt: Thank you, Tai. For believing in me. I'm just sorry I was so late. Tai, you have to know how much our friendship has always meant to me! And I swear, nothing will ever come between us again.

Piedmon's new line, once again playing on the Storybook Time thing from his first episode, is off. It's an odd thing to have a character say when he's just going to stand nearby and let the dramatic reunion unfold.

Unless he's being literal, and meant he was going to pop back into the observatory to brush up on his skills at the shooting range before coming back to this. Which, you know what, maybe he did.

Not sure why Tai leads with "I can't believe you're here" when the point of the scene is that he had an unshakable faith that Matt would show up, even to the point of letting himself nearly be killed over it.

Still, Matt's big speech is the focal point of this sequence, and it comes through pretty well in the dub.

They can't just have him say "You're my friend" because they've been using friend as a translation for nakama, so the distinction between it and tomodachi wouldn't carry over. So instead, he uses their friendship as a whole and pours out his feelings over how important it's always been, confessing what we now know he's been suppressing since the beginning of their journey.

This is an effective and powerful sidestepping of the linguistic hurdle present in this scene.

Yamato's declaration suddenly causes his Crest to activate.

Garurumon approaches WarGreymon's body and gives his head a nuzzle. Rainbow magic pours out of his Friendship nuzzle and suddenly WarGreymon is back on his feet and good as new.

Taichi: This is.... Piemon: What the...? Garurumon: Yamato's Crest of Friendship gave me the power to bring WarGreymon back to life. WarGreymon: Thank you, Garurumon! Now I can fight again!

Sure, that might as well happen.

Given that WarGreymon hadn't disintegrated, I imagine he means this more in a "WarGreymon was on the verge of death" sort of way than a "I literally have resurrection magic now" sort of way. Like how a defibrillator brings someone back to life, but not in the same sense that necromancy does.

I would make a joke about how the Crest of Friendship also gave Garurumon the power to heal WarGreymon's armor, but they're DIgimon. The armor is technically a part of WarGreymon's body, because he's a wire-model frame with a texture skin over it. So, actually, yeah, it does make sense that it works that way.

Similarly, as goofy as this moment is, it does kinda make sense within the established rules. The Partner Digimon are powered by the energy from their associated Chosen Child. So, basically, Yamato's outpouring of Friendship made his Crest glow super-bright, and then Garurumon used his body to channel that energy from the Crest into WarGreymon and refill all his meters - in the process, resuscitating him from his half-dead state. That does make sense to me.

But on its face, as something that just happens and then we move right the hell along, this is wild. Especially with Garurumon just staring into the camera and explaining it as flat exposition with no elaboration. XD

In the dub, it's explained like this:

Tai: WarGreymon! Piedmon: Now what? Garurumon: Matt! Your Crest of Friendship gave me strength and brought WarGreymon back to normal! WarGreymon: Thank you, Garurumon. Now I can fight again!

Pretty much exactly the same except they crossed out life and wrote normal. A minor hiccup is that Garurumon says the Crest gave him strength and resuscitated WarGreymon instead of giving him strength to resuscitate WarGreymon.

A subtle but important distinction, because resuscitating WarGreymon uses up the extra strength Garurumon was given.

While Garurumon degenerates back into Gabumon, Jou and Yamato try to cart Taichi away to safety.

Koushiro: Guys! Hurry, hurry! Jou: Taichi, are you okay!? Taichi: (weakly) I'm fine....

Cut to Piemon, who has inexplicably been doing nothing while this is going on.

Piemon: I had planned on defeating you all in an instant, but if you so enjoy suffering, then I'll relish every minute of tormenting you slowly. Yamato: This jerk never shuts up!

Yamato has been here for thirty seconds and he's already had enough of Piemon.

In the dub:

Izzy: Come on, guys! Get out of there! Joe: Tai, are you okay? Tai: I think so.... Piedmon: My first thought was to destroy you all together in one nice little package. But now I believe I'd rather do it individually, so as to prolong your suffering a little longer. Matt: You sure talk a lot for a clown!

You tell him, Matt!

Piemon throws his Trump Sword once more. Gabumon responds by Warp Evolving into MetalGarurumon.

Hikari: MetalGarurumon!

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon fire together, their combined energies destroying Piemon's four swords, which disintegrate into pixel dust as normal for Digimon parts.

Jou: YES!!! They broke through Piemon's swords!

For his part, Piemon hops over what's left of the attack as it reaches him.

Piemon: It seems the battle I've been waiting for has finally arrived!

We close here, with WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon finally reunited, and Piemon's promise that things won't be that easy next episode.

In the dub, Hey Digimon begins playing as the pair attacks. What ever happened to that cool 90's rap they had that one time?

Kari: Ha! Now he'll see what we're made of! (WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon vaporize the Trump Sword) Joe: They were able to break Piedmon's attack! Alright! (Piedmon hops over the attack) Piedmon: Well, could it actually be the case that I've finally found an adversary worth fighting? Narrator: Will WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon have enough strength to defeat Piedmon, the last of the Dark Masters? Find out on the next Digimon: Digital Monsters.

We will indeed find out. And the answer may surprise you!

Assessment: Ahh, the infamous "Matt wanders around a cave for twenty minutes" episode.

Piemon's realm is in an odd place. There is a clear desire to spend some time fleshing out his stripe of Spiral Mountain and getting to know what it's about. But also, what it's about is death and despair, which makes it a tricky place to write a complete adventure fantasy episode about.

This episode uses it to confront Yamato and Sora's fears via the never-explained Cave of Go Fuck Yourself. There's just this one spot in the realm of darkness where, if you go there, you get pulled into a psychic quagmire of your own insecurities.

Weird. But the Digital World is full of weird shit so it doesn't really need explanation. Digimon tends to treat darkness as, to an extent, eldritch and unknowable. More of that in 02.

In any case, this is pretty much the quintessential episode for unpacking Yamato, detailing the effects that his childhood trauma have had on his development. But it also has its detractors on account of like half the episode just being preteens having anxiety in a cave.

There's not a lot of action or running around with goofy new characters in this one, if that's what you're here for. It's very drama heavy and character-focused.

[sasagero]

A3! Tenma Sumeragi SSR: "Treasure Hunt: TENMA" (2/3)

Tenma: …..

[knock noise]

Taichi: Co~ming!

Taichi: Hm? What’s up, Ten-chan!

Tenma: …Huh?! It’s not you?

Taichi: Whuh? What are we talking about?

Tenma: No, it was what I got out of my treasure hunt’s hint… It made me think it might’ve been from you…

Taichi: Ten-chan…

Taichi: …Ding ding ding! You’re spot on!

Tenma: What the hell, don’t scare me like that! And what’s with that “correct!” sign?!*

Taichi: Hehe, sorry, sorry. I didn’t think it’d be interesting if I gave you a straightforward answer.

Taichi: To bring up the excitement, I made you wait for it! Anyways, come in, come in.

[Inside Taichi's room]

Taichi: So you were able to remember after all!

Taichi: To be honest, I didn’t think Ten-chan would trace it back to me right after getting the hint.

Tenma: …Well, it’s not like it was the first thing I thought of. But I remembered something we talked about lately…

[Flashback]

Tenma: (Today’s my first day off in a while. Well then, what to do…)

Taichi: Ah, there you are! Ten-chan, Ten-chan! It’s a disaster!

Tenma: What the—what’s wrong?

Taichi: I just saw on social media that a film you starred in as a child actor started streaming!

Tenma: Ah…come to think of it, Igawa said something like that the other day.

Taichi: Actually, I was in this film, too!

Taichi: So come on, hurry up! Let’s watch it together!

Tenma: Haah?! Right now?!

Taichi: It’s fine, come on~.

Taichi: Uwah! This is super nostalgic~!

Tenma: It definitely brings you back. That’s right, the set we were filming on looked like this.

Taichi: Ah, there’s child actor Ten-chan! Woow! Cute!

Tenma: Y-you sound way too enthusiastic.

Tenma: …So, when do you show up?

Taichi: Hmm… I think it’s in a little bit…

Taichi: Ah, there! That’s the back of my head!

Tenma: That’s you? Well, if you say that, then it kind of seems like you… Yeah, I get what you’re saying…

Taichi: Of course! Starring as an extra with Ten-chan was super shocking to me at the time. I even recorded it!

Taichi: The next scene is… ah, this candy is super nostalgic, too!

Taichi: When we filmed this drama, they gave us the candy they used as props once we were done, and it made me super happy~.

Taichi: I got hooked on it after that, and I’d beg for us to buy it every time we went shopping!

Taichi: But it stopped being made a while ago.

Tenma: Huh… So that’s what happened.

Taichi: The way it’d crackle in your mouth when you ate it made it fun to eat. Ten-chan, did you get to eat it too?

Tenma: No… I didn’t try it. Nobody ever bought me the kind of sweets that kids would enjoy.

Tenma: I remember seeing it being handed out to extras on set and feeling envious of them.

Taichi: Really…

Tenma: I always wanted to try that kind of candy made for kids… Can’t be helped if it went out of production.

Taichi: I want to eat it again, too~. I’d definitely buy a ton if I still could!

[End flashback]

Taichi: As expected of Ten-chan! The fact that you remembered makes me really happy.

Taichi: Then, here’s a present from you to me! Here!

Tenma: A cardboard box? What is this…?

Taichi: Hehe, try opening it.

Tenma: This is… the candy we were talking about at that time, isn’t it? If production was discontinued, then how…

Taichi: That’s ‘cause they started making it again pretty recently. I knew I had to get this for Ten-chan’s birthday!

Taichi: I went out of my way to buy a ton of it! You should take your time to really taste it as you eat!

Tenma: Huu… Gotcha. Thanks.

-

TL notes: the "correct!" sign tenma was talking about is something like this (below) that you'd see in a quiz game if you got the right answer

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[asordinaryppl]

A3! Backstage Story Translation - Sakyo Furuichi SSR: BE.MINE ver.SAKYO - Part 2

Sakyo: (... I can hear the TV from the living room. Is someone still up?)

-

Izumi: …

Sakyo: So you’re the one up this late, Director-san.

Izumi: Ahaha, I happened to catch this variety show, and it was so interesting that I ended up watching it to the end…

Izumi: Oh, this commercial…

Sakyo: Ah, this is “Gun & Run”. It’s an action movie with pretty good reviews, I hear.

Izumi: Yes! I heard the quality of the action scenes is quite high as well. I’m sort of interested in it.

Sakyo: Would ya like to go see it together, then?

Sakyo: I was thinking it might be good to watch a movie at a cinema, considering the theme of my Boyfriend Material prompt.

Izumi: Fufu. Sakyo-san, do you just feel like watching a movie?

Sakyo: … Is it that obvious?

Izumi: It is, it is. I mean, when I explained your prompt, you reacted as though it’d be no problem for you.

Sakyo: That’s true, now that I think ‘bout it… So, what are we gonna do?

Choice 1: I’d love to come!

Izumi: I’d love to come!

Izumi: When I'm by myself, I often end up thinking I'll go see it later only to find myself missing the viewing period.

Sakyo: Yeah, I do that a lot too. Whenever I’ve got something to do, I end up putting it off.

Sakyo: That’s why it’d be better to go with someone else and avoid putting it off.

Izumi: I agree. I’m glad we’ll get to see this one before its run is over!

Choice 2: Are you sure I can come?

Izumi: Are you sure I can come?

Sakyo: Of course I am. I wouldn’t have invited you otherwise.

Sakyo: Also, while I’m not worried about the shooting, I did want to go to the cinema once beforehand.

Izumi: Oh, I see.

Sakyo: Yeah. So, come with me and let me know if there are any pointers you can give me.

Izumi: I’d be happy to!

Izumi: Okay, let’s decide on when to go. Sakyo-san, what’s a convenient date for you?

Sakyo: Let’s see…

-

Sakyo: Hey, I’ll leave your drink here.

Izumi: Thank you. You got back quickly.

Sakyo: The convenience store wasn’t that crowded.

Izumi: I’m so excited to see the movie.

Sakyo: Yeah.

Taichi: Oh, aren’t our seats in this row?

Izumi: Hm? I know this voice…

Kumon: H, I, and J’s over there! Yup, that’s us!

Sakyo: It’s that lot…

Sakyo: *Sigh* I know they were talkin’ about going to see a movie, but to think it’d be the same time and place as us…

Izumi: And they’re in the seats in front of us. What a coincidence…

Tenma: My seat is… here.

Tsuzuru: I’m next to you, then.

Izumi: They don’t seem to notice us at all…

Sakyo: … Yeah.

Taichi: Pass me the popcorn, Kyu-chan!

Kumon: Sure! Man, I can’t wait!

Tenma: All the actors in this movie are really good.

Tsuzuru: The trailer and synopsis both made this movie seem very interesting.

Taichi: I wonder what the action scenes are gonna be like! There’s a fight on top of a car in the trailer…

Kumon: Yeah, yeah! And there’s also a real intense gunfight!

Sakyo: Hey, you brats. We’re in a damn movie theater. Don’t make so much noise.

Troupe members: !?

Tenma: Sakyo-san… and the Director…?

Kumon: Why are you here!?

Tsuzuru: I didn’t notice you at all… And you’re in the seats behind us. What a coincidence.

Taichi: Sakyo-nii, it’s so unfair you and the Director get to be together!

Sakyo: Shaddup, don’t cause a scene.

Kumon: But the movie hasn’t even started yet!

Taichi: Right! We just wanna chat before it does start!

Sakyo: Quit yappin’. You’re gonna bother the rest of the audience.

Sakyo: I can hear ya just fine even when you’re just chattin’, so stay quiet until the movie ends.

Kumon: Okaaay…

Taichi: Urg… I can’t watch with Sakyo-nii right behind me… Someone please switch with me!

Kumon: I wanna switch too!

Tsuzuru: Sorry, but no thanks…

Tenma: Yeah, same here. I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on the story like that…

Sakyo: Just what the hell do you guys think of me?

Izumi: Ahaha…

part 1 | part 2 | part 3

[obseletrix]

hey theo. i’m sending you a fandom (world trigger) now tell me who is your blorbo or sad meow meow or whatever

hi peri.

guy i think about the most: uh yeah it's probably rinji amatori.

shaped: bamsters are pretty cute. like if there was a squishy bamster i'd buy that, you know?

underappreciated: enedorad. also a guy i would buy as a plushie

obscure fave: also rinji amatori (3 panels of screen time....)

cat one: enedora (hot)

would torment for fun: i feel like i do this to various people in fic but tbh katori? i don't hate her but she would be interesting to watch in a zombie situation.

super hell: taichi. i like him and he would probably, like, trip over something important and totally fuck up... whatever entity is in charge of super hell again. i'm not christian and i have not watched supernatural, idk. he would get kicked out within a week, so i don't feel bad about it.

[serialadoptersbracket]

Round 2, Match 30: Kazuma Kiryu vs. Yuugo and Lucas

Submitted kids:

Kazuma Kiryu: Haruka, Ayako, Eri, Riona, Izumi, Taichi, Koji, Mitsuo, and Shiro

Yuugo and Lucas: My guy. [They have] like 60. I'm not gonna list them all.

Propaganda under the cut! (Spoilers ahead!)

Kazuma Kiryu:

1. “There's a pretty big section of one of the game that's entirely about taking care of all those kids and it's all really sweet !”

2. “How the fuck did he get 9. There’s like 6-8 games where he’s the main character and he adopts haruka rlly early, but then in one game in the middle of the series, in the beginning like opening scenes he’s like avtually fuck it I’m adopting an ENTIRE orphanage/eight WHOLE children. (not a bit like. He actually did that) he’s the silliest billy badass old man. Grampy Kiryu also, bc haruka has a kid now.”

Yuugo and Lucas:

Yuugo: “I LOVE THIS RAT MAN SO MUCH ok so he starts off not wanting anything to do with these 15 children (ik i said 60 but they come later) who showed up at his doorstep because yk his entire family was killed and he's afraid of loving someone in the same way again. So he tries to push them away but oh boy these kids are clingy and also they found the emergency detonator and threatened him with blowing up his house.

Here's the thing though one character arc, the reuniting with his friend who he thought was long dead, and the rescue of an entire hunting ground full of kids later raising these kids literally becomes his new purpose in life. Along with Lucas (his aforementioned friend who I'm convinced is married to him) he helps teach them everything he knows about surviving in such a hostile world, things he himself had to learn the hard way which cost a lot of his loved ones his life. Before these kids showed up he was hopeless and without purpose. He didn't know why he was still alive and even contemplated ending it all. But all this changed when he adopted these kids.

Lucas: Anyway imagine watching your entire family die in front of you because you got trapped in a human hunting ground run by man eating demons, so you start a rebellion by recruiting kids in the hunting ground and teach them how to use guns among other things. That's what Lucas did!! :D

Anyway it's pretty much confirmed that he's the kids' confirmed dad, there's like 2 scenes where they outright call him their father. But I disgress.

Much of what I said in the Yuugo propaganda applies to him as well, he teaches the kids all he knows about survival which he had to learn the hard way and would protect them with his life. The difference is he's been doing the parent thing for a lot longer, he literally RAISED the Goldy Pond kids.

Both: First off: gay marriage. Second: The way they know exactly what it's like to lose loved ones due to inexperience and how they went "yeah no way in Hell this is gonna happen to these kids we're gonna prepare them for The Horrors" was a 2 person thing you think it's easy to take care of 60 children and homeschool them? Third: This is spoilers btw. They go and do a Die Hard (infiltrate a building that's been completely overtaken by the enemy and take it back from the inside) just so their children wouldn't have to live with the trauma of killing an actual human being.

I wish they were my dads.”

[mike----wazowski]

i completely forgot i had something for sunday six last week lmao but i'll just post it today @four-white-trees @overdevelopedglasses @skysquid22 @passthroughtime @woundedheartwithin i've also seen @jichanxo being tagged in others so i thought i might add- hope that's ok!! 🫡🫡

this has been sitting in my drafts for ages and is a really old snippet. rikiya content was the first writing i did for yakuza 😔✊️

***

"Riona, what are you doing out here? I asked you to get me your dirty laundry."

Kiryu's scolding seemed to go over Riona's head. She had her hands on her hips, and was striking a pose. "I'm practising my runway walk, Uncle Kaz. I'll need it for when I'm a supermodel!"

Kiryu sighed. "A supermodel."

"Yeah!"

"I thought you wanted to be a fashion designer?"

"Changed my mind!"

"Right. Well, maybe practice being a supermodel after you've given me your laundry," Kiryu said, with as much patience as a father-of-nine could muster. "You won't get on the runway with dirty clothes, will you?"

"What's this about bein' a supermodel?" A bright voice rang out. Haruka beamed as Rikiya approached the gates of Morning Glory, Mikio in tow. The moment they heard him (Rikiya could be heard from Downtown Ryukyu), the other kids emerged from the house, and Taichi came running to wrestle him, as was his signature greeting.

"Riona's practising her walk for the runway," Haruka chirped, as Rikiya was almost knocked off his feet. "She wants to be a catwalk model one day."

"Ohh, right, of course- Riona's our little fashionista!" Trying (and failing) to fend Taichi off, Rikiya called, "Let's see that walk, then, Riona!"

"Okay!"

Kiryu cleared his throat as Riona readied herself. "What about your laundry?"

Riona paid him no heed, starting up her attempt at a runway walk. She looked rather like a wobbly duckling taking its first steps, but Rikiya and Mikio cheered with the enthusiasm of a stadium crowd.

"Wow! You're gonna be at all the big shows!" Mikio said, and Rikiya yelped in agreement, unable to say more with Taichi trying to drag him down.

"Thanks! I keep asking Uncle Kaz to get me a pair of heels so I can practice properly, but he always says no," Riona said.

"Aniki- just doesn't- understand the lifestyle," Rikiya wheezed. Fortunately for him, Taichi had now switched targets to Mikio. "He's an unfashionable old man, y'know?"

"She's too young to wear heels," Kiryu intoned. "Plus, you're pretty far from the supermodel lifestyle yourself, Rikiya."

"Whaaa-" Rikiya let out a theatrical gasp, wheeling around to face Haruka. "Haruka-chan, did ya hear what he just said?"

"I did," Haruka giggled.

"Am I wrong?" Kiryu asked, voice dust-dry. "Anyway, we've had our fun- laundry now, Riona, and if you two are here you can help me with the-"

"Nope, nope, nope. I ain't lettin' this stand!" Rikiya interrupted, pushing his chest out. "I'm gonna show you how I strut my stuff, Aniki!"

"... what."

"I'm gonna do a runway walk that makes you go gaga!"

Taichi finally let up on his assault, dropping off of Mikio's back. "Isn't that for girls, Uncle Rikiya?"

"Don't say that like it's a bad thing!" Ayako scolded him.

"Both girls and guys both do modelling," Mikio told him. "I dunno if Rikiya fits the part, though. You gotta be good looking to be a model."

"Hey, go to hell!" Rikiya protested. "I'll show ya both what I can do!"

Though Kiryu looked like he wanted to protest, the prospect of seeing Rikiya make a fool of himself was enticing. And now Rikiya had his audience, he probably would go ignored anyway.

"Gotta have a good starting point..." Rikiya jogged over to the gates of Morning Glory. "You watch this!"

"Oh, I'm watching," Kiryu sighed.

Rikiya took long, flying strides, head angled so he was gazing dramatically into the distance. He wiggled his hips in a way that shouldn't have been anatomically possible. The kids shrieked with laughter, and Kiryu shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm gonna show you my passion... I'm gonna show you my fire..." He seemed to be going above and beyond a regular catwalk, adding off-key singing to the mix.

"Are you a model or an idol?" Kiryu asked.

"Both, aniki! I'm a triple threat! Singin', dancin', and killin' with good looks!" He turned to the kids. "Wanna join in?"

Izumi and Riona jumped at the chance, running to join him on his little stage. It took a moment of bravery, but Mitsuo followed. Never one to be upstaged, Taichi jumped in next, and soon all of them but Haruka were following Rikiya's makeshift choreography.

"I guess I'm never getting that laundry," Kiryu sighed, but he was smiling so openly Haruka couldn't take him seriously. "Not feeling like a supermodel, Haruka? Or dancer- whatever he thinks he's doing."

"Come on, Haruka-chan! Gotta show your oji-san what's what!" Rikiya called. "I'll have your heart inside of my hand-"

"'Cause I am the queen, oh queen of the passion!" Haruka jumped in, and Kiryu let out a genuine laugh, loud and strong.

It was just like Rikiya to turn a quiet night into one where everyone danced.

So of all the things wrong with his body- the bullet wounds, the blood, the empty eyes- the stillness was the worst part.

[meenatranslates]

[R] Taichi | Those Who Hide in the Snow

Every time I go to the storage room to look for props, things always appear or disappear, so it feels like treasure hunting.

__________________________

The Return of Lord Taichi!? - Part 1

__________________________

ーRoom 106 (Day)ー

*knock knock*

Azami: Who is it?

Oh, Taichi-san.

Taichi: Sorry to bother you! Can I borrow the Yaksha horns that you used during the Ayakashi Festival before?! (1)

Azami: Yaksha horns...? Oh, does this have to do with the demon role that you and Sakuya-san going to play as guest performers?

Taichi: Yeah! I was thinking of what I could do before our practice starts.

And when you think of demons, horns come to mind, right? I just thought they're what I need to look the part.

My demon role has a lot of horns on the head, and they're kinda similar to your Yaksha horns...!

I actually don't know if you have the full set costume, but I thought it won't hurt to ask you for it!

Azami: I see. But that costume was for the summer festival's salesperson to wear, so even if they still have it, it'll take a while to pull it out.

Taichi: Agh, you're right.

Azami: Have Director call them...

...Nevermind. Why don't you try looking around the storage room? You might unexpectedly find something there.

Taichi: Oh yeah! It's like a magical storage room where anything you want can come out if you dig deep enough!

Azami: I think the room's just being messy, though.

Taichi: Aight, I'll go and look for something there!

Azami: Let me know if you still don't find anything. I'll try asking the staff for the Yaksha horns then.

Taichi: That'd be a great help! Thanks, A-chan!

ーStorage Roomー

Hmm... I guess there isn't one here...

(A-chan said all that, but I'll feel bad asking Director-sensei and the townspeople for help just to lend me the horns only...)

Ah, I can just make one myself!

Oh, but I'd be better off doing something else if I have that much time... Hngh...

Aaahh~! Won't horns just sprout on my head already?! Anyone, please help me and grant my wish~!

Haha, just kidding.

...Hm? M-my head is kinda itchy. Feels like something's digging into my scalp...

Horns?: Are you the one who had summoned me?

Taichi: Huh? Who was that...?

Horns?: Were you not saying you needed my help?

Taichi: EHH!? N-no way... I've got horns now! Are they also... Hngh-! I can't get them off!!

(Noooo~! The cursed horns are back again!) (2)

Horns?: Good grief, you have been so tumultuous since earlier. That behavior is very unbecoming of you. To be more proper, you must walk like this.

Taichi: (My body is moving on its own!?)

Horns?: I haven't the slightest idea of the snow spirit you have in mind, but surely they are something similar to me.

Hmm... Not having an attendant is out of the question. Let us look for them.

Taichi: P-please wait a second! Everyone will be surprised, so anything but that~!!

=====NOTES=====

[1] Referring to Azami's R "Sneering Yaksha"

[2] Referring to Taichi's SSR "Demon of Hell"

__________________________

The Return of Lord Taichi!? - Part 2

__________________________

ーHallwayー

Horns?: Now then, is there anyone around?

Taichi: (Not only my body, but my mouth also moves on its own!)

(Back then, it seems that I got possessed by a Jiangshi after Ban-chan stuck an unknown talisman on me...)

(But I'm currently being possessed while fully conscious right now!! I'm gonna get told off by Ban-chan and Sakyo-nii again~!!)

Eeek...! Please don't let me bump into someone here...!

Chikage: Oh, Taichi. Good morning.

...What are those horns?

Horns?: I don't like this guy.

Chikage: Eh?

Taichi: Ahhh, nope, nothing! The weather is good today as usual, huh! Now then, if you'll excuse me!

Chikage: What was that...?

ーBalconyー

Taichi: (Surely there's no one-)

Homare: A shining snow shower, a sparkling sun shower... Pouring down on us-

Taichi: (Gaaahh-!! There is~!)

Homare: Oh, hello there, Taichi-kun. Care to have some tea as well?

Hm? Why do you have horns there?

Horns?: The elegance is impeccable, but I do not believe we can get along.

Homare: ...Pardon?

Taichi: Ahaha, the tea sure smells good, huh! But my tummy kinda hurts right now, so I'll have the tea another time!

Homare: Is that so? Take care, then.

Still, I wonder what's with the horns...?

ーLoungeー

Sakyo: We need to send the year-end gift to the chairman, and then...

Banri: Ah man, it's already the time. What should we do with the end-of-year gift?

Taichi: (Oh no, no, no! What should I do?! I ran into the people I want to avoid the most!)

Banri: Oh, it's Taichi.

...Hey, I've seen that horns somewhere before.

Horns?: Hoh... This guy is not worth it, but...

The other guy here looks well-taught. He seems to be informed of civility, so he's perfect.

Banri: Hah? Why you...

Taichi: Awawa! Ban-chan, this is-.

Horns?: Hey, that four-eyes over there. I'm talking about you.

Sakyo: Ahh?

Taichi: It wasn't me just now, Sakyo-nii! It's the horns' doing!

Horns?: As you can see, he is not behaving properly. Having an attendant by his side should make things a little better. A few days should suffice, so serve him well.

Sakyo: ...This sure seems familiar, hm?

Taichi: I'm really sorry about this, Ban-chan and Sakyo-nii...! Seems like I got possessed again...

Sakyo: My god, what did you do this time.

Taichi: Well...

~~~~~

Sakyo: Now I get it. Your wish backfired on you.

Banri: Should we do the talisman again?

Horns?: Do you truly think that would work against me?

Banri: This guy's irritating as heck.

Taichi: Sorry, Ban-chan!

Um, so, what should I do to remove these horns?

Horns?: They will be gone if you are able to maintain the same dignity even without me around.

Sakyo: It might be pointless for asking, but... Is there any hope?

Horns?: From what I see, there is none.

Taichi: Eh! No way~. So you're telling me I'm gonna be stuck like this for life!?

Horns?: If you do not want that, then train yourself to develop the dignity worthy of my level. Do that and they will come out then.

Taichi: Urk, this is the most spartan role study I've ever done so far...

Horns?: Hey, 'Four-eyes', carry this through together as his attendant. He won't grow any further otherwise.

Sakyo: That's none of my business. And who are you calling 'Four-eyes'?

Horns?: This guy here had mentioned that this was for role study. For a place like this, it is not possible for it to be none of your business, no?

Sakyo: Tsk, what awfully talkative horns.

Banri: Yeah, the one before this didn't talk at all.

Horns?: ...Seems like I have no other choice. Since thou would not do it, I will train him.

~~~~~

Where is the dignity in that!

Taichi: *huff, puff* I'm getting mentally tired from switching places... When will I be free from the horns~!

Tenma: What's with the ruckus here?

Taichi: Ten-chan! I want these horns to come off already~!!

Tenma: Just take them off then.

Banri: We're sayin' that he can't. He got possessed by somethin' weird. Until he has the dignity, he can't take 'em off at all.

Tenma: ...Hah? I don't get it. You really can't do it?

Banri: Try and touch 'em.

*Tenma touches them, then the horns disappear*

Tenma: W-what the!?

Banri: Huh?

Sakyo: It disappeared...?

Taichi: Eh!? You serious!?

Horns?: I can see in him that he possesses a great dignity.

Tenma: What's this voice...?

Banri: It sure resonates directly in my head.

Horns?: He is still somewhat immature, but he has good manners.

Although he does not have as much civility as 'Four-eyes' does, he is the most akin to me. You shall ask this person for guidance from now on.

Tenma: ...What is he talking about?

Sakyo: ...He was annoying to the end, but then he appointed Sumeragi and disappear, just like that.

Banri: Guess it's 'cause he felt they were kindred spirits.

Taichi: Seems like it...

Story Clear!

[jujumin-translates]

[A3!] Misumi Ikaruga | [SSR] A Face-to-Face Rival | grass memory - Part 1

Izumi: Huh, Misumi-kun?

Misumi: Ah, Director-san! What’s up~?

Izumi: I’m on my way home from a meeting right now. I’m guessing you’re still looking for triangles, Misumi-kun?

Misumi: Yeah! Exactly--.

???: “The hell are ya lookin’ at!?”

???: “You don’t gotta pull out a gun! Bastard!”

Izumi: (Huh, those voices…)

Kumon: “Aight, c’mon, then~! Let’s go~!”

Taichi: “Alright, bring it on! Don’t even try to mess with me!”

Izumi: Ahaha… Seems like we bumped into some of the others doing a street act.

Izumi: (They’ve even got wooden swords and prop guns… It’s probably supposed to be a delinquent etude, but it’s got pretty strong comedic vibes.)

Misumi: …I’m gonna join too~!

*Misumi runs to join them*

Izumi: Huh? Misumi-kun--.

Misumi: “My bad! Sorry to keep ya waiting!”

Kazunari: --.

Kazunari: “Misumi! Thanks for finally showin’ up!”

Kazunari: “Hey, I’ve got just the thing ya need! Ya said ya couldn’t get fired up without a leaf in you’re mouth like this one.”

Misumi: “--Damn right! Thanks, partner!”

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

*Applause*

Taichi: Thanks for watching, everyone!

Misumi: And thanks for your applause~!

Kumon: Come and watch us again!

Izumi: (It’s great that it seems like it was well-received.)

Kumon: Ah, Director! Good work!

Izumi: Good work to you too, guys! That seemed like a lot of fun.

Kazunari: It was fun! But it was kinda a shock to have Sumi hop in outta nowhere like that~.

Misumi: Ehehe, sorry, sorry~.

Izumi: It makes sense to see you guys doing a street act, but why a delinquent etude?

Kumon: Actually, Azami’s got this delinquent manga that everyone’s been passing around the dorms lately!

Kumon: So everyone’s been kinda obsessed.

Taichi: And we were sorta inspired by that, so we came here to do a street act feeling those vibes!

Izumi: (These guys sure do love taking action.)

Misumi: I haven’t read that yet, so I’ll have to borrow it from Azami~!

Kazunari: Alright, let’s all go home together then!

Taichi: Ah, then why don’t we do some shopping on the way back, since there’s so many of us, y’know?

Kumon: Sounds great, let’s do that!

Izumi: Ahaha, good luck then!

[ Next Part ⇢ ]

[the-himawari]

A3! Izumida Azami - Translation [SR] Bright Star of Blooming (2/2)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Banri: One of the questions in the questionnaire we got back before today asked if Autumn troupe did anythin’ together during the run of the show.

Azami: Good question… we played a survival game together, right?

Omi: This play had a lot of action scenes, so we wanted to get all of us up and moving together.

Banri: We went to the same place we played paintball before. I’m sure there’s folks here who have seen that video on the MANKAI Channel.

Omi: We split up and competed in Ethan’s team for Azami and James’s team for Sakyo-san.

Azami: Yeah. It just so happened we got split into the same teams as before.

Omi: Banri and Juza got fired up last time. But this time, Azami and Sakyo-san were the ones who got heated. Sakyo-san's strategy was quite elaborate just like our previous game.

Sakyo: I gotta do what I gotta do. The other guys might be able to manage, but I can’t match their physical strength so matter how hard I struggle. This is the result of fightin' brawn with brains.

Azami: I thought they were bein’ fricken annoying coming at us. Is that why?

Banri: Well, we were quick on our feet to react to their strategy too.

Azami: I trusted Taichi-san and Banri-san since they were both right behind me even when I asked them to do somethin’ crazy.

Banri: Yeah, and after that it turned into a one-on-one showdown between Azami ‘n Sakyo-san—.

Omi: And the outcome was a draw.

Azami: Why the hell does it always end in a draw? Makes no sense.

Sakyo: You took the words outta my mouth.

Omi: …It sounds like we’ll be going there again, won’t we?

Banri: Seriously?

-pause-

Azami: So, should I pose in front of here?

Izumi: Yep. Have you already decided what you’ll do?

Azami: Yeah. I dunno if it’ll fit Ethan’s vibe though.

Izumi: Alright, I’ll go ahead and take it then.

Azami: Sure.

Izumi: Here goes.

Azami: …

*click*

Izumi: Nice shot. It fits Ethan to a T.

Azami: That’s what I was goin’ for.

Izumi: (So he can pose like this no problem as long as he’s in character, huh?)

Azami: Is that all?

Izumi: Yep, you’re good to go. Great job today.

*dream starts*

Azami: … (I feel like I’ve seen this place before…?)

???: …

Azami: (That’s me… or not.) …Ethan?

Ethan: Who’re you?

Azami: Err, well. What should I say…

Ethan: Are you planning on holding a wedding too?

Azami: A w-wedding!?

Ethan: I guess that’s a no from that reaction.

Azami: Nah, it’s not for a w-w-wedding or anythin’…

Ethan: Ah. Are you checking things out in advance for your girlfriend then?

Azami: Girlfriend!?

Ethan: Off the mark again, huh?

Azami: …Hold up, you said “you too”. (In the play’s story, Ethan was tricked by his fiancée so…)

Ethan: Ahh, about that… I was planning to hold a wedding ceremony. But, uh, let’s just say that didn’t work out. Marriage is useless crap. But maybe one day, if I meet my true soulmate, I’ll wanna it again.

Azami: Even if you have to go through that again?

Ethan: Damn straight. I might’ve been deceived, but those feelings of love I had for that person were real! You’ll understand too, once you find a partner.

Azami: Hmm…

Ethan: Huh? By the way, the way you’re looking at me—are you actually—.

*dream ends*

Azami: … (I see. It was a dream… What a weird dream.)

Sakyo: …

Azami: (Is he awake already?) It’s the ass crack of dawn. What’re you doing?

Sakyo: I’m just jotting down notes about potential projects for the MANKAI Channel.

Azami: …There’s a lot more ideas than before.

Sakyo: Yeah. Miyoshi and Chigasaki came up with more ideas. But… I guess the personality quizzes are out, huh?

Azami: Nah, we can do those.

Sakyo: …There’s ones about love, y’know?

Azami: Whatever. (Maybe I’ll be able to understand those feelings Ethan was talkin’ about a ‘lil bit more.) Those things aren’t even accurate anyways, right?

Sakyo: Hmph. Agreed.

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[otomehoneyybearr]

Act 12

Episode 9: Emergency Meeting

Working w/ Maybelle Lace

Note: As you read, you will see that some sentences highlighted in a different color, this is what they indicate. Pink: Flashback Blue: Characters are acting

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Zen: Are ya'll okay?

Syu: They've done one hell of a job.

Izumi: Zen, Syu, you all came too.

Kasumi: We saw the news and rushed here. Is everyone alright?

Yuzo: Anyone hurt?

Izumi: We’re fine. Thanks for worrying about us.

Sakyo: At any rate, we need to make an official announcement as a theater company.

Manager: We've received a large number of inquiries.

Izumi: In order to reassure the fans, we need to announce that no one was injured.

Sakyo: And about the show tomorrow...

Sakyo: I’ve already prepared statements for both partially canceling and fully canceling performances.

Yuzo: You work fast, kiddo.

Sakyo: We have to decide which one we're going to use as soon as possible.

Izumi: Let's discuss and decide it with all the troupe members.

Tenma: Either partially cancel or fully cancel all the shows...

Misumi: I don't like either one~.

Kazunari: But we have to choose one.

Yuki: Since we sold so many tickets for the live streams, if we refund all the money now, it'll be a significant loss.

Sakyo: I haven't done an estimate yet, but it would be pretty grim.

Kumon: Then, maybe we could do it in a different theater!

Azami: Yeah, that's probably the best way to minimize losses.

Tasuku: Even if we found a theater for now, we'll still need to find a new place going forward. It'll be difficult performing without our own theater.

Tsumugi: It may take some time until we get something of similar quality.

Tasuku: It will be seen by a large audience via streaming, and above all, it'll be an important performance with the Fleur Award at stake.

Tasuku: It’d be best to cancel all the performances and rebuild.

Homare: I think it would be best if that could be done, but wouldn't there be risks for having such a large gap between the first part and the second part of the performance?

Tsuzuru: Even with the archive streaming, I'm still worried about whether people will interpret it as a standalone story or that it'll be forgotten entirely.

Kazunari: And right now is the perfect time for the new Mankai Company to attract attention.

Muku: I was planning on doing my best for the show tomorrow...

Taichi: It’s just too much!

Omi: This must be why they've chosen this exact timing to take such measures to ensure our destruction.

Juza: Damn it, we can’t forgive this.

Banri: On another note, I'm also concerned about the threatening email we received.

Azuma: It's possible that it’s just a threat, but we can't go on with a performance if the audience will be affected.

Guy: We need to think of a different approach to handle this.

Masumi: Should we have no audience?

Chikage: That is one option.

Citron: Let us change our name to Manzai Company, and fool our enemies!

Tsuzuru: They'll definitely find us out right away!

Hisoka: Marshmallow Company...

Chikage: The name isn't the issue here.

Itaru: Whatever method we go with here, there'll be pros and cons to it.

Izumi: As the lead role, what do you think about this, Sakuya?

Sakuya: Well... I understand that there's not much we can do about our current situation...

Sakuya: But, if possible, I’d like to bloom the precious "seeds" that we inherited from the first generation members of Mankai Company.

Sakyo: However, we don’t know when the Mankai Theater will be rebuilt...

Izumi: (What should we do? I'm still in shock from the fire and can't think properly.)

Izumi: (I'm sure everyone else feels the same way too, considering our precious theater fell into disrepair right before the performance.)

Izumi: (At times like this, I have to be strong, but…)

Manager: W-We have a bit of a problem here!

Izumi: ?

Executor: Pardon the intrusion.

Sakyo: What’s going on?

Executor: This dormitory has been seized under a court order. Please vacate it immediately.

Manager: A foreclosure?!

Izumi: W-Wait a minute. What are you talking about?

Executor: If you are unwilling to move out, we will forcefully remove your belongings in a week.

Izumi: I-I’ll confirm this later! Please just leave for now!

Executor: ...Understood. We will return at a later date.

Izumi: ...

Tenma: What the hell is going on?

Syu: They've even gotten their hands on the dorms.

Zen: They’re pushing us into a corner.

Tsumugi: Do you know something about this?

Yuzo: Well, we should properly tell you guys about this.

Syu: The mastermind behind these incidents is a person who has harbored hatred for Mankai Company since its first generation.

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[peemanne]

One of my favorite parts about the gameplay in Shinada's section of Y5 is just how vicious his heat actions are. Mind you the game's name is YAKUZA 5, and you play as the literal actual yakuza in Saejima and as a literal actual ex-yakuza in Kiryu. They even gave Kiryu a move called "Essence of Face Grating". FACE GRATING. And yet the guy with the deadliest, brutal heat actions we've seen yet is some random ass ex-baseball player who's broke as hell and can barely string a rush combo together.

Like, what the hell, dude. Who even taught you how to fight like this. That's a THREE-PART HEAT ACTION, by the way. First he grabs you from the ground and throws you against the wall, then tackles you against it, then he decides that's not enough and starts repeatedly bashing your head before knocking you back to the ground. There's "long heat action", then there's an entire combo string of three different ones.

Speaking of long heat actions, guess what cool heat action they decided to reuse for Shinada! Here's a hint: it comes from Yakuza 3! Is it the headbutt, maybe? Maybe one of the ones where Kiryu throws one guy at another? Well, how about HELL'S GAUNTLET. Y'know, the nearly 30-second long maneuver of multiple complex, bone-breaking grapples? Yeah, that one. Also, instead of being locked behind Feel the Heat for cool, dramatic finishes, it's just the downed heat action for enemies about to get up, so expect to see it often. Now it's "Essence of Armbarring".

No, seriously, who taught him how to fight like this?

Then there's all the weapon heat actions. Since Shinada's supposed to be the weapon's guy, he gets a bunch of unique ones. They're actually where Majima would get most of his Slugger heat actions from in Y0. Anyways, Shinada goes ham but this time with stuff in his hands.

Imagine you're a street thug, and you find some dude to mug. Suddenly, he pulls out a giant pole from his back pocket somehow, throws it at you like a javelin, and does this.

My favorite one is probably Essence of Furious Thrusts. Shinada finds an opening with a poke of a one-handed weapon (which is usually the STURDY IRON PIPE that he finds on the ground at the beginning of his chapter, by the way), starts twirling it around all smugly while slowly walking forward, and, well, he does a bunch of furious thrusts. Two at the face, one at the jugular, two near the chest area, then he decides to be extra furious by doing...

...yeah, then he SLAMS the pipe against the skull. No, he's not done. He finally tilts the head up using the pipe and just stares and the poor soul he's fighting, before violently shoving it against the jugular. Are you really gonna do that to him, Shinada? Like, come on. He asked for your money very politely, even said please.

That's not even getting into his climax heat moves. They have a whole meter dedicated to it, of course they're gonna go the extra mile. And what does Shinada get for his?

Eat your heart out, Taichi Suzuki.

In conclusion, never try to rob a broke ex-baseball player. He'll look at you like this before carrying out very excessive self-defense.

I love this character so much it's unreal